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Terror From The Skies: Sahel Militants Weaponise Civilian Drones In Deadly Attacks
As insurgents move away from face-to-face combat with armed forces, they are turning to commercial drones as tools for launching assaults.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
Terrorist groups operating in the Central Sahel are increasingly turning to commercially available drones as a new weapon of war, a shift in strategy aimed at bypassing the military superiority of regional armed forces. According to a government statement released after a series of attacks in western Mali on July 1, the use of kamikaze drones has become a growing trend among armed groups across Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger.
Initially used for surveillance and propaganda, drones have now been adapted to drop improvised explosive devices and conduct suicide missions. This evolution marks a turning point in asymmetric warfare in the region, inflicting growing casualties and structural damage while instilling fear in security forces.
The tactic appears to have been inspired by similar drone deployments in conflicts in Libya and the Middle East. It now features prominently in the operations of separatist and extremist groups across the Sahel.
In Burkina Faso, more than a dozen suicide drone attacks have occurred since February. In May, Jama’at Nusrat ul-Islam wa al-Muslimin (JNIM) launched drone-led assaults on Djibo and Diapaga. Meanwhile, in Niger, the Islamic State in the Greater Sahara (ISGS) used kamikaze drones for the first time on May 25, targeting an army base in Eknewan near the Malian border and killing 64 soldiers.
In Mali, the Azawad Liberation Front used drones in an April attack on a Malian military command and the Wagner Group’s base in Léré, southwest of Timbuktu. They had earlier deployed similar tactics during the battle of Tinzaouaten in Kidal region in July 2024, resulting in significant casualties for Malian and Wagner forces. Additional drone strikes were reported in Goundam and Léré in September and October 2024, with another attempted drone attack on May 5 near Amachache, close to the Algerian border.
Militant groups are reportedly modifying off-the-shelf civilian drones by adding improvised launching mechanisms, allowing them to carry out more targeted and destructive attacks. These drones—often sold in local markets for agricultural or media purposes—are inexpensive, easy to conceal, and hard to track due to porous borders and weak regional oversight.
Despite increased investment in military equipment by Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger, their inability to detect or intercept these small and low-flying drones has created a major vulnerability. Security forces are increasingly being ambushed at camps, checkpoints, and convoys—raising the urgency for anti-drone defenses, even if costly.
By mirroring the drone warfare tactics of national armies—such as the deployment of Turkish-made Bayraktar drones—armed groups have not only adapted to modern combat but are exploiting gaps in the region’s defense systems.
The humanitarian toll is equally troubling. Civilians in these conflict zones face rising threats of indiscriminate violence, with drone strikes exacerbating already fragile security and displacement crises.
On May 22, the Alliance of Sahel States—comprising Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger—along with the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), committed to greater cooperation in combating terrorism. Experts suggest this should include regulation of commercial drone sales and use, possibly through the Wassenaar Arrangement, which restricts the export of dual-use technologies.
While military solutions are critical, analysts stress the need for non-kinetic responses, such as promoting defections among insurgents and addressing the economic and social conditions that fuel extremism.
According to Hassane Koné and Fahiraman Rodrigue Koné of the ISS Regional Office for West Africa and the Sahel, the increasing reliance on drones by non-state actors represents a dangerous escalation—one that demands both immediate countermeasures and long-term strategic responses to prevent further destabilisation of the Sahel.
”NIVONEWS REPORTS”
The Federal Road Maintenance Agency (FERMA) has appealed to residents of Abia State and other road users along the Aba–Azumini highway to protect the newly completed road from activities that could damage it.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
FERMA’s South-East 2 Zonal Director, Suleiman Mohammed Omonowo, issued the warning during an inspection of the project, cautioning against the burning of tyres during celebrations, which he said could damage the road surface.
He noted that destructive practices by some youths and community members often contribute to the early failure of road projects across the country.
“Our advice to road users, especially indigenes, is to protect the road from destruction. Let nobody come and destroy it or burn tyres in the name of celebration,” he said.
Omonowo said the Aba–Azumini highway was previously in a very bad condition before FERMA intervened, describing it as a death trap for commuters and residents.
He also expressed satisfaction with the quality of work done on the project, adding that drainage structures such as catch pits would help prevent flooding and extend the lifespan of the road.
According to him, the highway serves as a major link between Aba, several Abia communities, and Cross River State, carrying heavy traffic daily.
He urged local construction firms to improve on quality delivery to compete effectively with foreign contractors.
Meanwhile, the Federal Roads Maintenance Engineer in Abia State, Festus Okafor, said FERMA workers have not faced harassment or violence from residents during operations in the state.
The Nigerian Correctional Service (NCS), Yobe State Command, has declared a 30-year-old inmate wanted after he escaped following a road accident involving a prison transport vehicle.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
The incident reportedly occurred on April 13, 2026, while inmates were being conveyed from the Medium Security Custodial Centre in Potiskum to Damaturu.
In a statement issued in Damaturu, the Command’s Public Relations Officer, DSC Abdullahi Adamu, said the vehicle conveying the inmates was involved in a crash during the journey.
He said the accident happened while efforts were ongoing to rescue those affected.
The escaped inmate was identified as Dahiru Mohammed, with prison number J/1539/24, who was admitted into custody on November 29, 2024.
The Correctional Service described him as dangerous and warned members of the public not to have any form of contact with him.
It urged residents to report any useful information that could lead to his re-arrest to the nearest security agency.
Authorities also cautioned that harbouring a fugitive is a criminal offence punishable under the law.
The Federal High Court sitting in Ibadan, Oyo State, has ordered the University of Ibadan (UI) to reinstate three students suspended over their participation in a protest against tuition fee hikes.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
Delivering judgment on Wednesday, Justice Nkeonye Maha set aside the decision of the university’s Central Student Disciplinary Committee, ruling that the students were denied fair hearing during the disciplinary process.
The court held that the failure to allow the students call witnesses and present evidence violated their constitutional right to fair hearing, rendering the sanctions against them invalid.
The affected students — Aduwo Ayodele, Mide Gbadegesin, and Nice Linus — were suspended on July 14, 2025, after taking part in a protest against increased school fees approved by the university’s governing council.
Dissatisfied with the suspension, they approached the court, arguing that the disciplinary proceedings breached their fundamental rights and due process.
They asked the court to quash the suspension, reinstate their studentship, and award damages for alleged rights violations.
In her ruling, Justice Maha agreed with their arguments, stating that the university’s actions failed to meet the standards of natural justice.
Following the judgment, rights group CAPPA hailed the decision, urging the university to comply fully, reinstate the students, and issue an apology.
The group said the ruling reinforces constitutional protections for freedom of expression and serves as a warning against the suppression of student protests in tertiary institutions.
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