Insecurity: Kaduna to use drones for surveillance in 2017

The Kaduna State government will in 2017 deploy drones for surveillance to check security threats in the state. The Kaduna State deputy governor, Barnabas Yusuf Bantex, who spoke yesterday, said provision for the acquisition of drones and other security gadgets was made in the 2017 budget estimate for the state.

Speaking at the launch of the biography of Ufuwai Bonet, the chief of Kagoro held at Fadan Kagoro, the deputy governor said the current administration in the state was worried by the violent attacks and other criminal activities occurring in Kaduna, especially southern part of the state.

He said: “The governor and I have visited several of our communities that were affected by these terrible events. As we pursue peacebuilding, the government is also increasing investments in security. There is no doubt that intelligence-gathering has to improve. There are provisions in the 2017 budget for the acquisition of drones and other surveillance gear to boost our security capacity.

“Ultimately, peace is sustained by the willingness of people to live together in harmony and mutual respect. Our communities should encourage everyone to avoid self-help, reprisal or vendetta. Every incident should be reported to the law enforcement agencies, rather than individuals taking the law into their hands. Let us all work together to end the spiral of violence, and let us oppose the narrative of division and lawlessness”.

Bantex said security agencies were seriously working to contain the security challenges and apprehend those involved in killing and destruction of property in the state.

He added: “We are calling on our citizens to desist from taking the law into their hands. There are some who resort to politicizing the killings by promoting hate narratives over the pains of our people. We will not be distracted or deterred in our commitment to pursue peace, end the violence and punish the perpetrators of these criminal activities”.