Report Warns of Escalating Threat as Terrorist Groups in West Africa Ramp Up Drone Attacks

Terrorist organizations in West Africa are increasingly deploying drones in combat operations, signaling a dangerous shift toward aerial warfare capabilities, according to a recent BBC report citing data from the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project (Acled).

The report highlights that two Islamic State (IS) affiliates have carried out approximately 20 drone strikes in the past year, most of them in Nigeria. This follows earlier warnings from lawmakers, such as Rep. Ahmed Jaha, who noted that Boko Haram insurgents have been using drones—sometimes more sophisticated than those available to the Nigerian military—in attacks in Borno State.

In addition, an al-Qaeda-linked group has conducted at least 69 drone attacks in Burkina Faso and Mali since 2023.

Ladd Serwat, a senior Africa analyst at Acled, explained that jihadist groups often use commercially available quadcopter drones rigged with explosives. These drones are also employed for reconnaissance and surveillance to plan ground assaults.

The Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) has executed at least 10 drone strikes since 2024 across northeastern Nigeria, northern Cameroon, southern Niger, and southern Chad. Similarly, the Islamic State Sahel Province (ISSP) has carried out a comparable number of attacks in the region.

Despite Nigeria’s strict controls on drone imports, researcher Malik Samuel of Good Governance Africa noted that terrorists acquire these devices through smuggling networks across porous borders. Samuel added that drones allow militants to strike more effectively while reducing their own casualties.

Security experts are urging regional militaries to take proactive measures. Taiwo Adebayo of South Africa’s Institute for Security Studies emphasized the need for “preemptive strikes” on drone sites and investment in counter-drone technology to prevent further escalation.

The concern follows a January 29 attack in Borno, where ISWAP militants used multiple armed drones combined with ground fighters to assault a military base, killing nine soldiers.

Audu Bulama Bukarti, a security analyst, described the trend as “deeply concerning,” noting that drones lower the cost of attacks, enable intelligence gathering with minimal risk, and allow strikes on previously hard-to-reach targets.