BREAKING: The Nigerian military has banned the use of drones in the North East

Operation Hadin Kai, the military’s Joint Task Force in the Northeast, has issued a directive banning the use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), commonly known as drones, in the entire region.

This was announced by UU Commodore Idris, commander of the air component, in a statement.

He stressed that the unauthorized use of drones poses a serious threat to security in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states.

The statement said: “The proliferation of drones for domestic and commercial use has led to serious security concerns.

“These concerns are mainly caused by their possible use by non-state actors and criminal elements for subversive and offensive activities.”

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“What is more worrying is that state institutions and private individuals operate these drones without taking into account the current rules for their operation.

Idris condemned the unauthorized use of drones by government agencies and private individuals, stressing that such activities often ignore existing regulations.

He added that non-governmental organizations have used drones to target military facilities and critical national infrastructure, a trend seen around the world.

He continued: “In addition, non-state organizations have advanced the use of drones against military targets and critical national infrastructure (CNI), as has been witnessed in other countries.

“Recently there have been reports of drone sightings and unauthorized drone operations in the Theater. For example, on January 7, 2025, a passenger on an NGO flight from Maiduguri to Monguno was intercepted by a drone during a search at the helipad.

“The drone has been seized, the investigation is ongoing. These incidents, among other things, revealed the tendency of individuals to operate unmanned aerial vehicles without observing proper safety and security conditions, leading to disastrous consequences.

“These incidents have revealed a tendency for individuals to operate unmanned aerial vehicles without due regard for safety and security, resulting in disastrous consequences.”

“The OPERATION HADIN KAI Air Component (AC OPHK) is responsible for monitoring and regulating the operations of air platforms, including aircraft and drones, in the Northeast Theater.

“This is aimed at de-confidentializing the airspace to ensure safety for all operators in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa airspace.

“Given this, it is appropriate to reiterate the ban on drone operations in the Northeast theater as directed by the appropriate higher authority.

“It should be noted that violations of this restriction, no matter how minor, will be treated very seriously.

“In view of the above, you are requested to strictly observe the no-drone operation in the North-Eastern theater comprising Borno, Yobe and Adamawa airspace in the interest of security.”

Idris warned that violations of the ban, no matter how minor, would be treated with all seriousness. He urged all stakeholders to abide by the resolution to ensure security in the region,” Idris said.

NIGERIAN TRIBUNE