24
By Lizzy Chirkpi
Enugu State Governor, Peter Mbah, has launched a new phase in the state’s security strategy with the deployment of advanced surveillance drones capable of tracking criminal elements hiding within forests and remote communities.
The high-tech devices equipped with long-range cameras, heat-sensing technology, and real-time data transmission are designed to monitor expansive areas, identify suspicious movements, and guide security agencies to the exact locations of kidnappers, bandits, and armed gangs operating around Enugu and neighbouring corridors.
Speaking during the launch of the drone security initiative, Governor Mbah said the decision was part of his administration’s commitment to eliminate violent crime and restore confidence among residents, investors, and travellers. According to him, “We are deploying this technology to ensure that nowhere is safe for criminals anymore. These drones will help us locate offenders who hide in our bushes and forests, and our security teams will move in immediately.”
He explained that the integration of drone surveillance into the state’s security architecture would significantly reduce response time during emergencies, prevent attacks before they occur, and strengthen intelligence gathering. The governor noted that traditional policing approaches alone could not adequately match the sophistication of today’s criminal networks.
“These devices give us eyes in places that were previously difficult to reach,” he said, stressing that the initiative signals a new era of proactive and technology-driven security operations in Enugu State.
Security experts in the state have also hailed the move, describing it as a timely and strategic step that could curb kidnapping along major routes and flush out armed groups that have used dense forest areas as hideouts.
Residents expressed optimism that the drone deployment will complement ongoing security patrols, improve night surveillance, and deter criminals who have long exploited terrain advantages.
Governor Mbah assured citizens that his administration would continue to invest in innovative tools and inter-agency collaboration to ensure that “Enugu becomes one of the safest states in Nigeria.”
The drones have already commenced operations, with security agencies receiving live feeds to support coordinated field action.