Boko Haram Used Drones “Like Ones Used In Israel & Ukraine” To Strike Army Convoy

Terrorists from the Islamic State-backed Boko Haram faction struck a Nigerian Army reinforcement convoy in Monguno, Borno State, using weaponised drones early Monday morning.

Military sources confirmed the incident, which claimed the life of Colonel I.A. Mohammed, Commanding Officer of the 242 Battalion, and at least six soldiers. The troops were responding to an earlier assault on a Forward Operating Base in Sector 3 under Operation Hadin Kai.

NaijaChoice News learnt from a senior Army officer that the drones, similar to models used in modern conflicts abroad, dropped explosives directly on the moving vehicles around 2am. The source described the attack as sophisticated and difficult to counter with standard radar systems.

“The 242 Battalion Commander and his men were heading for reinforcement when the terrorists hit them with drones,” the officer told NaijaChoice News. “They shelled the convoy with bombs from the air. It is very unfortunate.”

Initial accounts from the battlefield had suggested an IED ambush, but fresh military briefings pointed to drone strikes as the primary method used in the deadly hit. The terrorists had first targeted the FOB, forcing the Colonel to lead the rescue mission personally.

He never reached the embattled position.

Monguno remains a critical military hub in the North-East, housing several battalions and forward bases that support counter-insurgency efforts across Borno. Sources said the insurgents focused on the smaller outpost before laying the trap for responding troops.

This latest assault highlights the growing threat posed by drone technology in the hands of Boko Haram and its splinter groups. Lawmakers and residents in Borno have repeatedly raised the alarm over the militants’ access to advanced weapons, which many say now outmatch some of the equipment available to Nigerian forces on the ground.

The Nigerian Army has not yet released an official casualty figure or full statement, but troops on the ground described the loss as a heavy blow to morale in the sector.

Nigeria’s fight against the insurgency, now entering its 17th year, continues to claim lives despite sustained military operations. Operation Hadin Kai troops have recorded several successes in recent months, including the repulsion of earlier drone-assisted raids, but incidents like the one in Monguno underscore the evolving tactics of the terrorists.