.Urges security overhaul, better equipment for military as Ododo rejects negotiation with criminals
.NAF airstrikes neutralize several terrorists
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CYRIL MBAH, Abuja with Agency report
Borno State Governor, Professor Babagana Zulum, has raised a red flag over the growing sophistication of bandits and terrorists, warning that Nigeria’s security strategies and equipment are outdated compared to those employed by the enemies, who are now deploying drones and AI tracking tools before striking.
Speaking on Tuesday at the launch of the Kogi State Security Summit and Fundraising event at the NAF Conference Centre, Abuja, Zulum said conventional methods of fighting insurgency have become ineffective. “Bandits and terrorists now deploy advanced drones and artificial intelligence tools on the battlefield to locate troops and military equipment,” he cautioned.
The governor called for urgent, collaborative action between citizens and government to tackle worsening insecurity.
He stressed that protecting lives and property cannot be compromised and demanded periodic upgrades of security equipment, intelligence, training and expertise.
“What was regarded as a small conventional matter has transformed into a huge challenge. We must also evolve scientifically and technologically to meet the challenge before it overwhelms the nation,” Zulum declared.
He described Kogi as a strategic gateway between the North and South, insisting the state needs upgraded security architecture to guarantee safety, economic growth, and prosperity.
“We need intelligence-driven networks and systems to fight insecurity, because when Kogi suffers, the nation also suffers.”
Zulum promised to provide technical assistance to states grappling with insecurity and he also urged states to equip operatives with better tools — more operational vehicles, modern drones, and satellite systems, to monitor territory and preempt attacks decisively.
In his welcome address, Kogi State Governor Usman Ododo vowed his administration would never negotiate with criminals.
“Rather than surrender to the antics of bandits and terrorists, the government will invest more in modern surveillance devices and increase support to security agencies to confront challenges head-on,” he said.
Ododo, a recent recipient of Champion Newspapers Limited award on Security and Youth Development, appealed to dignitaries at the event to donate generously. The state targets N500 billion to boost its security architecture, expand coverage, and re-equip agencies.
Former Zamfara State Governor, Alhaji Abdulaziz Yari, chaired the fundraising event which attracted several APC governors and other eminent personalities.
Meanwhile, the Nigerian Air Force says the Air Component of Operation HADIN KAI has executed precision airstrikes within the Yuwe axis of the Sambisa Forest, killing several terrorists on Monday.
The Director, Public Relations and Information, NAF, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, made this known in a statement on Tuesday in Abuja.
Ejodame said the military had sustained intense pressure on terrorist elements in the North-East.
He said the operation followed credible intelligence corroborated by Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance, which confirmed the presence of active terrorist elements within fortified structures and bunkers.
According to him, NAF air assets engaged the targets with precision munitions, destroying the structures, neutralising multiple terrorists, and eliminating key logistics facilities, as confirmed by subsequent battle damage assessment.
He said, “The sustained tempo of air operations continues to degrade terrorist networks, leaving the terrorists increasingly exposed and disrupted, with mounting pressure forcing them into desperate and reactive actions.”
He quoted the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Aneke, as reaffirming the NAF’s resolve to sustain relentless, intelligence-driven air operations until terrorist elements were completely neutralised.
“We remain committed to the protection of our personnel, the security of our nation, and the safety of all citizens.
“The NAF will continue to intensify precision engagements across the theatre, maintaining decisive operational pressure while adhering strictly to rules of engagement and minimising civilian harm,” Aneke said.
In another development, the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, has called for strengthened intelligence sharing among security agencies as part of efforts to tackle Nigeria’s evolving security challenges.
Disu made the call during a courtesy visit to the National Headquarters of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps in Abuja.
A statement released on Tuesday by the NSCDC spokesman, Afolabi Babawale, described the visit as the first of its kind by a sitting IG to the Corps.
Addressing the Commandant General of the NSCDC, Ahmed Audi, and other senior officers, the IG said the visit was aimed at reinforcing collaboration between the two agencies, which share the responsibility of safeguarding lives and property.
He noted that both agencies share the critical mandate of providing national security and must align their efforts to be effective.
“We must encourage one another as we confront contemporary security challenges. We often fight difficult battles in demanding terrains; therefore, we must share intelligence and operate as a unified front to achieve lasting peace,” Disu said.
He stressed the need for closer synergy and alignment of operational strategies to enhance effectiveness in combating crime and insecurity nationwide.
In his response, Audi reaffirmed the NSCDC’s commitment to inter-agency cooperation, noting that the Corps has maintained a longstanding working relationship with the police and is prepared to deepen such collaboration.
He identified collaboration, cooperation, and coordination as critical pillars for success among conventional security agencies and urged citizens to take a more proactive role in security by volunteering useful information to authorities.
The call comes amid persistent security challenges across Nigeria, where poor coordination and limited intelligence sharing among agencies have often been blamed for operational gaps.
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