The Kogi State Government has unveiled two high-capacity PH20 surveillance drones to enhance intelligence operations in the efforts to combat insecurity in the state.
Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo unveiled the advanced security equipment on Monday at the 12 Brigade Headquarters, Chari Maigumeri Barracks, Lokoja, during which he reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to adopting cutting-edge security technologies to defeat criminals in the state.
A statement by the governor’s spokesperson Ismaila Isa on Monday in Lokoja at the unveiling, quoted Governor Ododo saying the deployment of the drones was a strategic and deliberate step to check the excesses of criminal elements in the state.
According to the statement, “, Ododo said the deployment of the drones is a clear message that the safety of lives and property across Kogi State remains the top priority of his administration.
“The PH20 surveillance drones are equipped with advanced monitoring and response capabilities that will significantly enhance real-time intelligence gathering.
“The drones can operate effectively in difficult terrains, penetrate forested hideouts, monitor movement corridors and support precision-led security operations against bandits, terrorists and other criminal elements.
“These drones provide early detection of suspicious movements, improve coordination among security agencies and allow for faster, intelligence-driven deployment of forces. With this investment, criminals will have no hiding place in Kogi State,” Ododo declared.
He warned criminals operating within and around the state that his administration would not negotiate with criminals nor surrender any part of the state to banditry or terrorism.
He said Kogi State’s strategic position makes it the gateway between the North and the South, adding that the state government had carefully studied emerging threats, especially the infiltration of criminals displaced from other regions, and responded with decisive action.
The governor said in the past two years, the administration has built a strong, intelligence-led security framework combining technology, community participation, inter-agency collaboration and political will.
He said security structures have been established in all the 239 political wards, while 2,752 Vigilante Service personnel have been formally absorbed into the civil service to enhance their welfare, discipline and professionalism.
He added that hunters have been recruited and equipped across the 21 local government areas to support forest and rural operations, while sustained clearance operations have reclaimed areas previously threatened by criminal elements.
According to Governor Ododo, “the government has also constructed and equipped a Quick Response Unit, procured patrol vehicles, operational vans, motorcycles, bulletproof vests, helmets, communication gadgets and other operational equipment to enhance effectiveness of security operatives.
“The unveiling of the drones builds on these efforts, allowing security agencies to monitor forests, track movement of criminals, disrupt supply routes and neutralise threats before they fully develop,” Ododo declared.
He expressed sympathy with victims of criminal activities, assuring residents that the government remains firmly in control and fully prepared to secure every part of the state.
Governor Ododo also expressed gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his strong support and commitment to national security.
He commended heads of security agencies for their collaboration and intelligence-sharing, which he noted have contributed immensely to improvement in the security situation in the state.
The Chief of Army Staff, Major General Waidi Shaibu, represented by the Chief of Transportation and Innovation at Army Headquarters, Major General Olusegun Abai commended Governor Ododo for complementing federal efforts to address insecurity.
He noted that the acquisition of the two PH20 unmanned surveillance drones aligns with global best practices and complements President Tinubu’s resolve to tackle insecurity through technology.
The army representative also praised officers of the Nigerian Army and other security agencies for their sacrifices and urged residents to continue supporting security operatives with credible information.
In his remarks, the State Security Adviser, Commander Jerry Omodara, said the deployment of the drones is targeted at combating terrorism, banditry, kidnapping and other criminal activities in the state.
He explained that the PH20 drones would support terrain mapping, rapid intelligence gathering and surveillance across forest corridors and border roads that criminals have exploited over the years, thereby closing existing intelligence gaps.
Commander Omodara disclosed that well-trained personnel have undergone over three months of specialised training to operate the drones, urging them to maintain professionalism and strictly adhere to the rules of engagement.
Also speaking, the Commander of the 12 Brigade of the Nigerian Army, Brigadier General Kasim Sidi, described the unveiling as a historic milestone that positions Kogi State as a technological pacesetter in the fight against insecurity.
He assured the governor that the drones would enhance intelligence on criminal hideouts, reduce casualties among security operatives and be deployed strictly for the purpose for which they were procured.
The Commissioner of Police, Bello Nasiru Kankarofi, warned criminal elements that they no longer have hiding places, stressing that the proactive security initiatives of Governor Ododo have significantly strengthened the state’s capacity to tackle crime.
