January 14, 2026 l By Stephen — Dalena Reporters
ABUJA, Nigeria — The Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) is increasingly deploying unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) commonly known as drones in its campaign against Nigerian security forces, signalling a dangerous evolution in asymmetric warfare that experts say requires urgent attention from both Nigeria and the international community. The warning comes amid reports that the extremist group’s drone programme has shifted from basic reconnaissance to the potential delivery of explosive payloads on military targets across the volatile Lake Chad Basin region.
In an opinion piece published by Sahara Reporters, analyst Daniel Nduka Okonkwo outlines how ISWAP’s expanding use of UAVs represents a pivotal escalation in its operational tactics. Once limited primarily to surveillance and battlefield observation, the group’s drones are reportedly being adapted to carry improvised explosive devices, enabling remote attacks on Nigerian Army positions in Borno and Yobe states.
Security sources and regional reporting indicate that ISWAP has acquired at least 35 drones through smuggling networks around the Lake Chad corridor, with training underway and test flights already completed. Analysts caution that this capability could soon be used in coordinated aerial assaults that compound threats already posed by improvised explosive devices and ambush tactics a sign that extremist factions are increasingly adopting modern warfare technology previously seen in other conflict zones.
Experts say this technological shift is part of a broader trend among non-state insurgent groups to use off-the-shelf commercial drones modified for military purposes, reflecting a wider global pattern where extremist organisations repurpose relatively inexpensive systems to counterbalance conventional military forces.
The implications of ISWAP’s drone expansion extend beyond Nigeria’s borders. Because the group is aligned with the Islamic State’s global network, its enhanced UAV capabilities could provide a dangerous blueprint for other extremist affiliates across West Africa, the Sahel and potentially beyond, complicating regional counter-terrorism strategies and stretching already limited defence resources.
Nigerian military officials have not publicly confirmed the full extent of ISWAP’s drone assets, but analysts say the situation has prompted internal calls for accelerated development and deployment of counter-drone technologies, such as electronic jamming systems and radar surveillance, to protect troops and critical infrastructure.
Nigeria has itself invested in UAV technologies for surveillance and border security, including indigenous systems such as the Tsaigumi reconnaissance drone developed by the Nigerian Air Force, but experts argue that dedicated anti-drone capabilities and international cooperation are now essential to offset the evolving threat landscape.
The expansion of ISWAP’s drone arsenal underscores the adaptive nature of modern insurgencies, where technological adoption can swiftly alter battlefield dynamics. As Nigeria and its partners navigate this new chapter in the fight against terrorism, there is growing recognition that conventional approaches must be complemented by strategic investment in aerial defence, intelligence sharing and regional coordination to prevent UAV-enabled attacks from becoming a wider norm in West African conflicts.