The Al-Azhar Observatory for Combating Extremism in Egypt has expressed its deep concern regarding Boko Haram's use of unmanned aerial vehicles (drones) in Nigeria.
In a statement issued today, Sunday, the Observatory warned about the terrorist group's use of drones for reconnaissance operations in areas where they are active, expressing serious concern over this "dangerous" shift and the qualitative development in the strategy of this terrorist organization. The Observatory called on member states of the Lake Chad Basin Commission to respond swiftly to the African Union's demand to consider immediate and more effective measures against this threat, and to attempt to halt all forms of political, military, and financial support for Boko Haram.
The statement emphasized the need to continue military operations against this group, which is the first terrorist organization in Africa to utilize drones, and stressed the importance of eradicating armed groups that assist Boko Haram in executing their malicious plans aimed at destabilizing security and causing chaos.
Boko Haram terrorists rely on kidnapping as a means of survival, and despite suffering a series of setbacks and defeats recently, they still pose the greatest danger and bloodshed in West Africa, particularly in Nigeria.
It is worth noting that the terrorist group has been active in northeastern Nigeria for over a decade, forcing hundreds of thousands of Nigerians to flee their homes and resulting in the deaths of around 36,000 people. Ten days ago, Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari pledged to eradicate Boko Haram from the northeastern regions of the country within a year.
The group's militants continue to carry out dozens of terrorist operations, which include killings, beheadings, and kidnappings, showing no distinction between civilians, military personnel, children, or the elderly. This has led observers to label 2020 as the deadliest year in the history of Boko Haram.
