Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum, has called on the Federal Government to conduct an immediate and comprehensive review of the nation’s air safety and defence mechanisms.
Zulum made the call on Friday in Mafa town following a disturbing incident in which Boko Haram terrorists deployed a drone to attack a military formation in the state, signaling a dangerous escalation in the capabilities of the terrorist group.
The governor, while briefing journalists, expressed concern over the emergence of this new threat.
He stated that the successful use of drones by the terrorists to target a key military asset exposed a critical vulnerability in Nigeria’s airspace security.
“One thing I want to comment on is the issue of drones. This is frightening. In Dikwa, I was told drones were used.
“The proliferation of drones, particularly in the hands of non-state actors, is of great concern for the entire country. We have to do something to stop the rampant use of armed drones,” Zulum said.
Troops
The governor emphasised that the incident was not just a concern for Borno State but a direct threat to national security.
“Our borders need to be strengthened, and our airspace needs to be strengthened as well. This is something that we need to address urgently; this is not an issue confined to Borno alone.
“This is the right time for the security architecture to thoroughly look into strengthening the capability of our airspace to curtail the use of armed drones by terrorists,” he stated.
While commending the Nigerian Armed Forces, Zulum also urged members of the public to cooperate with security agencies by providing credible information on suspicious activities in their neighbourhoods.
Impending Attack
He stated, “We are here to commiserate with the victims over what happened yesterday and build the confidence of our people.
“I urge the community to be vigilant and report credible information to the Nigerian Armed Forces. The members of the CJTF should also be resilient enough to complement the effort of the Army.”
Speaking further, Zulum said, “Honestly speaking, we have credible intelligence that Mafa will be attacked and have duly been circulated to all relevant authorities. I believe there is a need for us to come together, including the state and federal governments, as well as the military high command, to identify the gaps and address them directly.
“I believe there might be sabotage within that has to be identified and addressed. We don’t have to blame each other; we have to come together and resolve this situation.”