Troops have discovered a suspected terrorist drone launch site during a fighting patrol in Bitta, Gwoza LGA of Borno state.
According to Zagazola Makama, a counter-insurgency publication focused on the Lake Chad region, security sources said the patrol took place at about 6:30am on Monday, following reports of drone activity and bush burning allegedly carried out by suspected ISWAP/JAS (Boko Haram) fighters operating from the Damboa axis.
According to the sources, troops moved to the area to verify the intelligence and, during the operation, discovered and marked a location believed to be used by the terrorists for launching drones.
“The position has been earmarked for a possible ambush operation as part of ongoing efforts to disrupt terrorist surveillance and operational capabilities,” Zagazola said.
“The sources added that patrols and monitoring had been intensified in the area to prevent further hostile activities and to deny the terrorists freedom of action.”
A recent report said terrorist groups in West Africa are now using more drones in attacks.
The Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project (Acled), said two Islamic State (IS) affiliates carried out around 20 drone strikes, most of them in Nigeria.
One of the latest attacks occurred on January 29 in Borno state, where terrorists launched a two-pronged assault using multiple armed drones and ground fighters on a military base.
The Nigerian military reported that nine soldiers were killed in the attack carried out by ISWAP.
