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The Kwara State Government says it is considering the deployment of drone surveillance and other advanced monitoring systems to strengthen intelligence gathering and curb rising insecurity across the state.
The initiative, championed by Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq’s administration, is part of ongoing efforts to combat the activities of terrorists and bandits operating in parts of the state, especially in Kwara North and Kwara South senatorial districts.
Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Prof. Mamman Saba Jibril, disclosed this on Monday while speaking with selected journalists in Ilorin.
He said the AbdulRazaq administration had continued to adopt proactive security measures, including the establishment of forest guards and sustained logistical support for the military, police, intelligence agencies and other security outfits operating in the state.
Speaking through the Permanent Secretary, General Services, Alhaji Shuaib Abdulganiyu Yitta, the SSG said the state’s Security Strategy Committee, constituted by Governor AbdulRazaq, was already considering the deployment of sophisticated surveillance systems to track criminal movements and prevent attacks.
“Part of what the Security Strategy Committee set up by the state government is looking at is the deployment of technology within the state to monitor the movement of these criminals,” he said.
According to him, the criminals often operate in groups and move from one state to another whenever security pressure mounts.
“If you study their movement, they move in clusters and hardly remain in one place. Once they are dislodged from one state, they relocate to another. The surveillance technology is intended to monitor their movement and prevent attacks before they occur,” he added.
Jibril said Governor AbdulRazaq remained committed to deploying both technology-driven and community-based approaches to strengthen security across the state.
He also cautioned politicians against politicising insecurity, stressing that the fight against terrorism and banditry should transcend political affiliations.
“For anybody to politicise the issue of security, it means such a person does not understand the gravity of the challenge. Insecurity affects everyone. When terrorists or bandits attack a community, they do not ask about political party affiliation. They attack indiscriminately,” he said.
He urged residents, irrespective of political affiliation, to support the AbdulRazaq administration and security agencies in addressing the security challenges confronting the state.
“We must join hands with the government in power and security agencies to defeat these criminals instead of exploiting the situation for political gain,” he said.
The SSG further called on residents to remain vigilant and promptly report suspicious movements or activities to security agencies.
He warned youths against collaborating with criminal elements for financial gains, noting that some local informants aid bandits and terrorists in carrying out attacks.
“Some of the areas facing insecurity have youths who serve as informants to these criminals. Our young people must avoid being used to destabilise their communities because of money,” he said.
He assured that the state government would continue to provide operational and logistical support to security agencies to strengthen ongoing counter-insurgency and anti-band
itry operations across Kwara State.
