An intelligence and security expert, Dr Yahuza Getso, has linked terrorists’ growing access to drones, weapons and other advanced capabilities to Nigeria’s poor border management, saying porous borders and weak oversight have enabled the movement of dangerous equipment into the country.
He made the remarks during an interview with ARISE NEWS on Wednesday, while reacting to the United Nations’ warning about evolving terrorist threats in Nigeria and the wider West Africa Sahel region.
“It is really practical, and it is very clear because of our inability to man our borders very well. There is collaboration and partnership—which we have been warning the Nigerian government and other West African sub-regions about—and the pirates operating in the Lake Chad Basin where they are communicating with other violent extremists from neighboring countries like Chad, Cameroon, and Niger Republic.
“By extension, our inability to properly manage our Trans-Saharan routes provides an opportunity where a lot of these gadgets are transported and imported into Nigeria,” he said.
Dr Getso also recalled that he warned the Nigerian government in 2011 that terrorists and kidnappers operating in parts of Katsina, Zamfara and along the Nigeria-Niger border had obtained anti-aircraft missiles, describing the development as “very dangerous” and a sign of the growing sophistication of armed groups.
“At the same time, in 2011, I notified the Nigerian government that the terrorists and kidnappers in parts of Katsina, Zamfara, as well as our borders with Niger Republic, have been able to obtain anti-aircraft missiles, which is very dangerous.
“Going by the technological exposure, advancement, and communication improvements, even if you go around many of these areas with walkie-talkies and other communication devices, you will realize that whatever you are communicating is being intercepted. As such, it is very clear and manifest that they are having an extension. Recently, a foreigner was apprehended in some parts of Borno State, which is clear testimony that they are getting support for training on how to utilize these things,” he added.
On the National Assembly’s call for a drone industrialisation policy, Dr Getso said Nigeria should establish a central control system for airspace management, strengthen surveillance, regulate drone imports and enact laws to punish those who breach the regulations.
“I realize that even the National Assembly is calling for industrialisation policy. What I expect is to have a central control system for all airspace management. We must improve the capacity of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency, other air monitors, and surveillance systems. We need to have a tag or badge so that whenever any drone is moving, it can be easily identified whether it is Nigerian-made.
“Imports should be discouraged for those who might be importing for other businesses, because some drones imported into the country for business are not really for business—some are security equipment, and nobody is checking them. We need to have a policy that will monitor, guide, operate, and have legislative backing on it. At the same time, we need an enacted, gazetted law that will help Nigeria and the Nigerian judiciary handle those who might be found breaching the regulations,” he advised.
Responding to concerns about possible illegal drone manufacturing, Getso said authorities should tighten inspections at land and marine borders and intensify the interrogation of arrested suspects to uncover the sources of communication gadgets, training and technical support available to terrorist groups.
“I would not be surprised. We can check it through the inspection of imports, whether through land borders or especially marine borders. It’s very essential. We need to intensify efforts to interrogate those who have been apprehended, to be sure that we ask for the sources of where they are getting these communication gadgets and technology. Who is building their capacity in terms of training? Who is repairing those things? Because definitely, they must be having technical issues. Who is fixing them, and who is training them on utilizing them?”
Commenting on US President Donald Trump’s praise for President Bola Tinubu’s counterterrorism efforts, Dr Getso welcomed the support but urged the Nigerian government to focus on the country’s worsening security situation.
He said the increasing frequency of attacks, school abductions and the use of sophisticated weapons by terrorist groups showed that more needed to be done despite international commendation.
“I commend President Donald Trump on that. However, the Nigerian President needs not just to accept the praise, but to look inward at what Nigerians are saying. The words we hear from the foreign scene may be as a result of certain policies, but in practical terms, what is happening in the country?
“We are having more attacks, more sophisticated arms used to ambush our security personnel, and multiple attacks. The presence and threat of these groups—both the bandits, ISWAP, Ansaru, and the rest—are constant.
“Every now and then, we are having challenges of school abductions and mass abductions. Right before I came in here, I received about three distress calls regarding several attacks. In the last 24 hours, I received no less than 47 distress calls. So how do you compare this?
“We like the encouragement from President Trump, and we also appreciate his initiative toward supporting Nigeria with surveillance and other equipment to boost morale and capacity. I believe Nigeria has the capacity and the personnel, but something is missing somewhere. Probably we are not holding people accountable or responsible for the assignments given. At the same time, probably we are not doing what we are supposed to do. In the North Central and Northwest, you can profile these threats area by area—they are everywhere, not in any hidden place,” he said.
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