In recent years, drone technology has advanced at an unprecedented pace, offering remarkable capabilities but also creating new opportunities for misuse. Criminals and terrorist groups have exploited drones for activities such as smuggling, terrorism, and espionage. In Africa, non-state actors, particularly those linked to the Islamic State and Boko Haram, have begun deploying unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) against national forces.
Nigeria, facing this escalating threat, has adopted a Lithuanian-made countermeasure: the EDM4S SkyWiper.
The EDM4S SkyWiper is a portable electronic warfare device designed to neutralize UAVs. Developed by NT Service UAB in Kaunas, Lithuania, it was unveiled at the 2019 Security and Counter Terror Expo in London. The system detects and disrupts drones by interfering with their telemetry, data transmission, control, and navigation signals. It comprises the EDM4S electronic anti-aircraft system and the WINGMAN detection device, offering a comprehensive solution for military and security forces targeting small-to-medium drones.
For the Nigerian Army, the EDM4S provides a simple and effective “point-and-shoot” tool. An operator aims the device at a drone and activates an Electro-Magnetic Pulse (EMP), which interrupts the drone’s communication signals. Depending on the drone’s design, this can cause it to crash, return to its launch point, or perform an emergency landing. With an operational range of up to 5 kilometers, the system is well-suited to safeguard sensitive areas and support military operations across varied environments.
A primary adversary driving Nigeria’s adoption of this technology is the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), a splinter faction of Boko Haram. Since 2014, ISWAP has utilized drones for intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance (ISR), and propaganda purposes. Operating primarily in northeastern Nigeria and the Lake Chad Basin, the group has progressively enhanced its tactical sophistication.
More recently, the 24 December 2024 attack on Nigeria’s Forward Operating Base in Wajiroko in the country’s north-east, marked the first known instance of a terrorist group in the region using drones in direct combat.
Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) deployed four armed drones carrying locally made grenades in a coordinated assault, injuring at least five soldiers. Two more such attacks have happened in Damaturu, Yobe State, and Abadam on Lake Chad.
The use of armed drones in battlefield operations is a dangerous new phase in ISWAP’s insurgency that challenges existing counter-terrorism strategies in the region.
Despite setbacks from Nigerian counter-terrorism efforts, ISWAP remains notable for its technological adaptability, including its drone use. Recent reports indicate the group is now attempting to develop UAVs capable of conducting attacks, heightening the urgency for effective countermeasures.
As drone technology continues to evolve, the need for robust defensive systems grows ever more pressing. The EDM4S SkyWiper offers Nigeria a scalable and adaptable response to this emerging challenge. By deploying this Lithuanian counter-UAV system, the Nigerian Army is taking a proactive step to protect its airspace and counter the innovative threats posed by insurgent groups like ISWAP.
Despite the growing threat posed by drones in Africa, many African militaries are falling short in fielding adequate counter-unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) solutions, leaving security forces vulnerable to emerging threats.
“With drone-enhanced precision, ISWAP – if not quickly stopped – could conduct high-impact assaults while minimising their casualties. The group could transform military outposts and relatively secure civilian locations into precarious targets.” Says the Institute for Security Studies.
Addressing ISWAP’s escalating threat requires a robust and coordinated multi-pronged strategy. First, governments in the region must prioritise the deployment of counter-drone technology, including jamming devices and air defence systems, to disrupt insurgents’ drones before they inflict damage. MNJTF made this requirement clear at the Maiduguri conference.
Strengthening intelligence sharing between security agencies in Nigeria, Chad, Niger and Cameroon is also critical. A coordinated effort to track and disrupt ISWAP’s supply chains and external support networks could significantly weaken its operational capacity.