In the early hours of October 23, 2025, northeastern Nigeria found itself at the epicenter of a new and deeply troubling chapter in its long-running fight against insurgency. Boko Haram fighters and their Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) offshoot launched a series of coordinated attacks on military formations and communities in Borno and Yobe states, deploying a weapon never before seen in this conflict: drones. The use of these unmanned aerial vehicles, confirmed by multiple military and government sources, has sent shockwaves through Nigeria’s security establishment and raised urgent questions about the future of the country’s counterinsurgency efforts.
According to Daily Trust and AFP, the attacks occurred almost simultaneously in Mafa, Dikwa, Marte, Ajiri (all in Borno State), and Katarko town in Yobe State. The militants, arriving in large numbers—some witnesses estimated over 100 motorcycles and four gun trucks—first struck at a military checkpoint in Mafa. They looted arms, ammunition, and newly procured operational motorcycles, then set vehicles ablaze, including trucks loaded with goods destined for Gamboru and other towns. Civilians, while shaken, were largely spared from direct violence, though their livelihoods suffered as foodstuffs and commodities were looted before the attackers moved on.
In Dikwa, the insurgents managed to dislodge military personnel, again looting arms and burning both operational and civilian vehicles. The scale and speed of the attacks suggested a level of coordination and tactical evolution not previously seen. In Katarko, Yobe State, the military held its ground, repelling the attackers and reportedly killing 17 insurgents in the process. "They did not succeed here, the troops really tried. The insurgents were repelled," a local source told Daily Trust.
While the Nigerian military has faced Boko Haram and ISWAP for over 16 years, this assault marked a distinct escalation. As reported by AFP and corroborated by Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno State, the militants used drones—likely commercial models modified to carry explosives or conduct surveillance—against military targets. This represents the first time drones have been used in such a manner by non-state actors in Nigeria, and it has left both authorities and residents deeply alarmed. "One thing I want to comment on is the issue of drones. This is frightening. In Dikwa, I was told drones were used," Governor Zulum said during his visit to Mafa on October 24, 2025.
Military response was swift and, by their own account, effective. Lieutenant Colonel Sani Uba, spokesperson for the Joint Task Force North East ‘Operation Hadin Kai’, stated, "The terrorists launched coordinated assaults on troops’ positions in Dikwa, Mafa, Gajibo, and Katarko... In all instances, troops stood firm, fought gallantly and professionally repelled the attacks, dealing the terrorists a heavy decisive and bloody blow." More than 50 insurgents were killed, and over 70 wounded, according to military statements. The troops also recovered a significant cache of weapons: 38 AK-47 rifles, seven PKT machine guns, five RPG tubes, two GPMGs, hand grenades, and thousands of rounds of ammunition.
Yet, the use of drones added a new and dangerous dimension to the conflict. Military sources described how some vehicles and buildings were gutted by fire from the terrorists’ armed drones and RPG fire, particularly in Mafa and Dikwa, where defenses were momentarily breached. Security analysts, as cited by Daily Trust and AFP, warn that such technology enables insurgents to conduct long-range surveillance, launch precision attacks, and increase risks to both military and civilian targets. The fact that these drones were deployed by militants underscores the growing sophistication and adaptability of terrorist groups in the region.
Governor Zulum, visibly shaken during his assessment of the damage, called for an urgent and comprehensive review of Nigeria’s air defense and surveillance mechanisms. He urged federal authorities to strengthen border surveillance, improve radar coverage, and invest in counter-drone systems to prevent similar attacks in the future. "The proliferation of drones, particularly in the hands of non-state actors, is of great concern for the entire country. We must do something to stop the rampant use of armed drones," Zulum emphasized. He also highlighted the need for stronger collaboration between the military, state and federal governments, and civilian intelligence networks, warning that gaps in security and potential sabotage must be addressed head-on.
On the ground, the aftermath was stark. In Mafa, residents showed reporters charred trucks—many loaded with cement and other goods—destroyed during the night’s chaos. In Dikwa, operational vehicles and civilian cars were left smoldering. While the military suffered casualties, with several soldiers wounded (their exact number not disclosed), officials maintained that no civilian lives were lost during these particular attacks.
The attacks of October 23-24, 2025, were not isolated incidents. Over the past year, northeastern Nigeria has experienced a string of violent episodes. On August 10, 2025, Boko Haram insurgents attacked Kirawa town, killing three soldiers and abducting a schoolgirl. On April 5, they struck Izge village, killing a captain and a corporal. In May, coordinated attacks on military bases in Marte, Rann, Gajiram, and Dikwa left several soldiers dead and many more missing. The deadliest of these, on September 6, saw 63 people killed in Darul Jamal, Bama LGA. Each attack has tested the resilience of both the military and the affected communities.
Despite these setbacks, the Nigerian military insists that progress is being made. According to security expert and former Department of State Service director Mike Ejiofor, "With the way things are going, the security operatives in Nigeria are actually winning the war, even when there are sporadic and isolated attacks by the terrorists." He stressed, however, that success depends not only on military might but also on the support and cooperation of the public and the involvement of the Multinational Joint Task Force to secure porous borders.
Governor Zulum echoed these sentiments but pressed for sustained and continuous military operations, rather than periodic offensives followed by lulls. "What matters is not the number of soldiers we need to keep here but how committed they are to fight back the terrorists during military operations. Above all, we need military operations. For sometime now, military operations have not been conducted in Borno State and that has been instrumental to the attacks we have been witnessing; the renewed insurgence attacks," he said.
As the dust settles and the military regroups, the specter of drone warfare now hangs over Nigeria’s northeast. The attacks have underscored both the adaptability of insurgent groups and the urgent need for Nigeria to modernize its defenses. For the communities caught in the crossfire, the hope is that this latest escalation will serve as a wake-up call—one that prompts a unified, technologically savvy, and relentless response to protect lives and restore peace.
