The United Nations has warned that terrorist groups operating in northern Nigeria and the wider West Africa-Sahel region are increasingly adopting emerging technologies, including drones, advanced communication tools and cryptocurrencies, to expand their operations.
The warning was issued by Leonardo Santos Simão, Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for West Africa and the Sahel, during a briefing to the United Nations Security Council on the security situation in the region.
Simão, who heads the United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel, said the use of these technologies is helping armed groups consolidate territorial and economic control while weakening public confidence in government institutions.
Presenting the latest report of the UN Secretary-General on developments in West Africa and the Sahel, he said violent extremist groups were adapting their methods by leveraging technology to strengthen their capabilities.
Simão, who heads the United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel, said the use of these technologies is helping armed groups consolidate territorial and economic control while weakening public confidence in government institutions.
UN envoy: Terror groups using advanced techs like drones
“The threat posed by terrorist and other non-State armed groups remains acute,” Simão told the Security Council, particularly in northern Nigeria and the central Sahel.
“The groups are adapting their tactics, using advanced technologies, such as drones, means of communication and cryptocurrencies, while developing links with transnational organised crime.”
The development adds a new dimension to Nigeria’s long-running fight against insurgency, where groups such as Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province have operated for more than a decade, particularly across Borno, Yobe and parts of the Lake Chad Basin.
While earlier insurgent operations relied mainly on conventional weapons, suicide attacks and improvised explosive devices, analysts have increasingly highlighted the role of digital tools, including encrypted communication platforms, online propaganda networks and commercial drone technology, in modern conflicts.
Recent security assessments have pointed to ISWAP’s growing ability to use technology to improve surveillance, coordinate attacks and gather intelligence. The group’s operations around the Lake Chad Basin have demonstrated a shift towards more organised and technology-enabled warfare, with drones becoming increasingly attractive to armed groups because of their affordability, availability and aerial surveillance capabilities.
Beyond battlefield technology, the UN also identified cryptocurrencies as part of the changing operational environment for extremist groups. Digital currencies can facilitate cross-border financial transfers outside traditional banking systems, creating additional challenges for security agencies monitoring terrorist financing networks.
Simão warned that military responses alone would not address the underlying causes of insecurity across the region.
“Security responses alone will not be enough,” he said. “There is a need for investment in the social, economic and environmental foundations of peace.”
He added that millions of people remain displaced by violence, while humanitarian operations face severe funding constraints. Women, children and young people continue to bear the greatest impact of insecurity, rights violations and limited access to essential services.
The UN representative also noted that attacks on schools were worsening the long-term consequences of insecurity by disrupting education and limiting future opportunities for affected communities.
For Nigeria, where security challenges have already stretched military and humanitarian resources, the emergence of technology-enabled insurgency raises concerns about the country’s preparedness to counter threats involving drones, encrypted communications and digital finance.
Simão said regional cooperation remains critical, noting that dialogue and collaboration among West African countries could help address the evolving security landscape.
“UNOWAS remains fully committed to the implementation of its mandate in the service of peace, constitutional governance and regional cooperation in West Africa and the Sahel,” he said.
While highlighting the security challenges, Simão pointed to signs of renewed regional cooperation, including consultations between the Economic Community of West African States and the Alliance of Sahel States, as well as mediation efforts involving regional actors.
He cited developments such as the reopening of the Kamba border post between Niger and Nigeria, alongside diplomatic engagements among countries in the region, as examples of efforts toward greater cooperation.
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