On December 24, 2024, a significant escalation in the tactics of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) was witnessed as they employed armed drones in a coordinated attack against Forward Operating Base (FOB) Wajiroko, located in Damboa LGA.
This attack represents a troubling development in the fight against terrorism, revealing how non-state actors are adopting sophisticated technology for attacks.
The first assault occurred at approximately 13:00 hours, when ISWAP militants launched an attack using mortars and small arms against troops at FOB Wajiroko. Despite the fierce firefight, the troops (TPS) managed to successfully repel the attack, forcing the terrorists to withdraw in disarray.
However, the situation escalated shortly after, around 13:23 hours, when FOB Wajiroko came under a second attack this time utilizing multiple armed drones equipped with locally fabricated grenades.
Telemetry and observations from the scene confirmed the presence of at least four different armed drones engaged in the assault. This shift in strategy by ISWAP signifies their increasing sophistication and adaptability on the battlefield, posing a new level of threat.
