Troops of the Nigerian military have uncovered a suspected drone launch site used by terrorists during a fighting patrol in Bitta, Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno State, in what signals a growing shift in insurgents’ tactics in the North-East.
Security sources said the operation, conducted at about 6:30 a.m. on Monday, followed intelligence reports of unusual drone activity and bush burning allegedly carried out by suspected Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) and Boko Haram (JAS) fighters operating around the Damboa axis.
According to counter-insurgency analyst, Zagazola Makama, who monitors developments in the Lake Chad region, the troops moved into the area to verify the intelligence and subsequently discovered a location believed to have been used by the terrorists for launching drones.
The site, according to the sources, has been marked for possible ambush operations as part of broader efforts to disrupt the group’s surveillance and battlefield coordination capabilities.
“The position has been earmarked for a possible ambush operation as part of ongoing efforts to disrupt terrorist surveillance and operational capabilities,” the source was quoted as saying.
It was also gathered that patrols and intelligence surveillance in the area have been intensified to deny the insurgents freedom of movement and reduce the risk of further coordinated attacks.
The latest discovery comes amid increasing concerns over the growing use of drones by terrorist groups operating in the Lake Chad Basin.
A recent analysis by the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project (ACLED) revealed that IS-linked factions have conducted about 20 drone-related attacks in West Africa, most of them in Nigeria, marking a shift in the sophistication of insurgent operations.
One of the most deadly of such attacks occurred on January 29 in Borno State, when terrorists reportedly launched a coordinated assault involving armed drones and ground fighters on a military base.
The Nigerian military said nine soldiers were killed in that attack, underscoring the evolving threat posed by drone-enabled warfare in the region.
Security experts have warned that the increasing adoption of unmanned aerial systems by insurgent groups could further complicate counter-terrorism operations, particularly in remote and hard-to-reach communities across Borno and neighbouring states.
Military authorities are yet to issue an official statement on the latest discovery as of press time.
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