Militants aligned with the Islamic State West Africa Province are stepping up preparations for coordinated drone operations aimed at Nigerian military positions, signalling a new phase in the decade-long insurgency in the North-East.
According to Premium Times, intelligence assessments indicate that the group has expanded its unmanned aerial capability and is positioning the devices for offensive use rather than surveillance alone.
Security officials describe the development as a calculated attempt to stretch frontline troops and test existing defences.
Moreover, sources familiar with the plans said that multiple drones are expected to be deployed simultaneously, targeting patrol units and fixed formations to overwhelm response systems.
“This is not experimentation anymore; it is a planned operational shift,” one security source said.
Further information suggests that insurgent cells operating around the Timbuktu Triangle and the Sambisa axis recently received a sizeable consignment of drones through trans-border supply routes linked to the Lake Chad basin.
The equipment, according to officials, has already been tested and cleared for combat use.
Analysts note that the group’s reliance on modified commercial drones reflects a broader trend among extremist movements seeking low-cost tools to counter superior firepower.
“They are adapting quickly, using technology to narrow the gap with conventional forces,” a defence analyst said.
However, the evolving threat has prompted renewed concern within the military, with calls for accelerated deployment of counter-drone systems and electronic warfare tools.
Officials warn that failure to act swiftly could expose troops to avoidable risks.
Meanwhile, Nigeria’s armed forces continue counter-insurgency operations across Borno and Yobe, even as armed groups adjust tactics through ambushes, roadside explosives and aerial surveillance.
The military has yet to issue a formal response to the latest intelligence.
Hence, security watchers say the situation underscores the fluid nature of the conflict, as ISWAP, which split from Boko Haram in 2016, continues to refine its methods and assert itself as a dominant force in the Lake Chad region.