Nigeria teams up with Pakistan to confront rising drone threat

Nigeria is facing a new and dangerous phase in its battle against terrorism, as the Islamic State West African Province (ISWAP) begins deploying armed drones in its insurgency campaign.
In a recent attack in Borno State in Northeast Nigeria, the group used modified drones carrying locally made grenades, injuring five soldiers and signaling a major tactical shift. Security analysts warn that this development reflects global trends in modern warfare, where non-state actors increasingly rely on drone technology to gain a strategic edge while minimizing their casualties. ISWAP, an affiliate of the Islamic State group since 2016, has grown more sophisticated, leveraging smuggling networks, looting, and satellite internet to support its operations.
In response, Nigeria has banned civilian drone use and is seeking international cooperation. A recent high-level defense meeting between Nigeria and Pakistan aimed to boost military collaboration, with defense minister Mohammed Badaru highlighting Pakistan’s cost-effective drone warfare tactics as a model. “Pakistan has effectively addressed the challenges of terrorism and improvised explosive devices (IEDs) using local technology and affordable drones. This is exactly the kind of synergy we need to transform our defense posture,” Badaru said.
Experts say the threat demands a comprehensive strategy combining military innovation, regional coordination, and non-kinetic approaches like disrupting ISWAP’s funding and supply chains. Tools such as jamming devices and radar detection are being considered to counter the aerial threat. While ISWAP’s use of armed drones is still limited and largely symbolic, analysts warn that the shift could erode public confidence in the military and escalate the already devastating insurgency, which has killed tens of thousands and displaced over 2.3 million since 2009.