Prof. Babagana Umara Zulum, the governor of Borno State, has called on the federal government to conduct an immediate and comprehensive review of Nigeria’s air safety and defense mechanisms.
The governor made the call on Thursday at Mafa Local Government Area after Boko Haram terrorists reportedly deployed a drone to attack a military formation in Mafa, signaling a new level of threat in the ongoing conflict.
Gov. Zulum expressed concern over the emergence of this capability, saying that the use of drones by terrorists to target a key military asset exposes a serious vulnerability in Nigeria’s airspace security.
He said the development is not just a concern for Borno State but a direct threat to national security that requires urgent attention from the federal authorities.
The governor urged the federal government to strengthen the country’s borders and airspace to stop the growing use of armed drones by non-state actors.
“Our borders need to be strengthened and our airspace needs to be strengthened as well,” Zulum said.
“The proliferation of drones, particularly in the hands of non-state actors, is of great concern for the entire country.”
While addressing journalists, he called for a thorough review of Nigeria’s air safety systems to identify and fix existing gaps.
Gov. Zulum also suggested that there might be elements of sabotage within the security system that must be investigated and addressed.
“I believe there might be sabotage within that has to be identified and addressed,” he said.
He urged members of the public to cooperate with security agencies by providing credible information on suspicious activities in their neighborhoods.
