Enugu to deploy 18 drones over insecurity

The Enugu State Government has disclosed plans to deploy 18 drones to provide surveillance in forests and other flashpoints across the state.

This was disclosed on Friday after the state’s maiden executive council meeting in Enugu.

Two Catholic priests, among others, were recently killed by bandits following heightened insecurity.

Speaking after the meeting, the Commissioner for Information, Mr Chidi Aroh, said the recently purchased drones would be deployed in collaboration with relevant security agencies whose mandate it was to handle such.

Aroh said the deployment of the drones was a major innovation in security architecture and management in the state, adding that the gadgets would be deployed as soon as the security agencies completed the installation. 

He said, “With these drones, it is now clear that you no longer need physical presence to access the forests and other such places.”

Aroh said the drones would have their base at the Government House from where they would be monitored.

He also said the council had reviewed the security situation in the state within the last few months and appreciated steps so far taken by Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi to curtail it.

The commissioner said the state government had in the last few months purchased a total of 360 security vehicles, 250 motorcycles and 300 bicycles that will be donated to security and associated security agencies.

Aroh said the state government spent over N1bn to purchase the vehicles, motorcycles, and bicycles, adding that out of the 360 security vehicles, the 100 vans bought from Innoson Group of Companies, would be given to the Army, police and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps.

The commissioner said 260 vehicles, motorcycles and bicycles would be handed over to forest guards, neighbourhood watch groups and associated security outfits in the various communities.

The commissioner also said the employment of 1,700 forest guards had been formally approved at a consolidated salary of N30, 000 per month, while the council approved N20, 000 to N25, 000 earned allowances payable to members of the neighbourhood watch groups monthly.