The Defence Headquarters has urged Nigerians to remain calm following reports of Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists deploying drones to target military bases.
Naijaonpoint understands that this reassurance comes in the wake of two drone incidents during the festive season that resulted in five soldiers sustaining injuries.
Speaking at a press briefing on Friday, the Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Edward Buba, downplayed the threat posed by these drones, emphasizing that they are not military-grade and serve more as tools of harassment than effective weapons.
“These are not professional or military-grade drones; they are essentially toys. The terrorists have modified them to carry certain items, but their impact is negligible. Their primary intent is to harass rather than inflict significant damage,” Buba explained.
He further assured the public of the military’s preparedness to counter such tactics and cautioned against unnecessary panic.
“We are engaged in a war against terrorists and insurgents, similar to conflicts seen globally in areas like Ukraine and Israel. The use of drones is a known tactic in modern warfare.
“Now that we are aware of their approach, we are implementing measures to mitigate these attacks. However, I wouldn’t term them actual attacks; they are better described as acts of harassment. Rest assured, we are ready and have strategies in place to address these challenges,” Buba said.