NAF: Al-Qaeda-Affiliated Extremist Groups Exploit Weak Governance Structures to Expand Influence

The Nigerian Air Force (NAF), on Wednesday, said that Al-Qaeda-affiliated extremist groups are exploiting weak governance structures to expand their influence in Nigeria, West Africa and the Sahel region.

The NAF also stated that porous borders in the Lake Chad Basin have allowed these extremist elements to sustain their activities, posing a persistent threat to national security and regional stability.

Speaking at the First Quarter Meeting with Branch Chiefs, Air Officers Commanding (AOCs), and Commandants, at NAF headquarters in Abuja, the Chief of the Air Staff (CAS) Air Marshal Hasan Abubakar called for the implementation of a comprehensive and integrated counter-Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) system to safeguard troops and air assets.

He said that the key lesson from asymmetric warfare across the globe, particularly in Europe, the Middle East, and West Africa, is the rise in the use of the electromagnetic spectrum, artificial intelligence, drone warfare, and the manipulation of social media in shaping war narratives.

“We must critically examine these trends and quickly develop specific strategies, including refining doctrines and utilising advanced technological capabilities, to enhance our overall effectiveness in tackling contemporary and future security challenges, particularly those posed by conventional and unconventional forces in asymmetric warfare.

“Talking about asymmetric warfare, it is clear that West Africa’s security landscape in 2024 remained highly complex. The Sahel region continued to be a hotspot for terrorism and insurgency, with Al-Qaeda-affiliated extremist groups exploiting weak governance structures to expand their influence.

“Similarly, the Gulf of Guinea remains vulnerable to maritime crimes, including piracy and illegal oil bunkering, necessitating sustained aerial surveillance and stronger regional cooperation to bolster maritime security,” he said.

The CAS averred that addressing these challenges requires a unified approach, emphasising coordinated air operations, intelligence sharing, and strategic partnerships.

Noting that a significant incident in 2024 was the employment of drones carrying locally fabricated grenades in a kamikaze role by Boko Haram terrorists to attack their own troops in Wajiroko, Damboa LGA, Abubakar said that this incident underscores the growing efforts of terrorists to proliferate drone attack technology.

“Therefore, while leveraging advancements in technology and modern warfare to enhance the NAF’s operational effectiveness, it is equally critical to implement a comprehensive and integrated counter-Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) system to safeguard our troops and air assets,” he concluded.

Linus Aleke

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