Lokoja (Nigeria): The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt. -Gen. Waidi Shaibu has inaugurated two PH‑20 UAS advanced security drones and a fleet of security assets procured by the Kogi Government to boost military and security operations.
The inauguration, held at Chari Maigumeri Barracks in Lokoja on Monday, was attended by top military officers, heads of security agencies, traditional rulers, and religious and community leaders.
Represented by the Chief of Transformation and Innovation, Army HQ Abuja, Maj. -Gen. Olusegun Abai, the COAS, said the drones would boost military and security operations in the state.
Shaibu thanked the governor for his support, noting that the drones would deliver intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) to improve situational awareness.
He said that the recent deployment of the 21st Battalion and the new drones represent a strategic, technology-driven approach to tackling terrorists and bandits.
Shaibu linked the initiative to President Bola Tinubu’s national security agenda, stressing that federal-state synergy was key to lasting peace in the North-Central region.
The COAS, who tasked residents to share timely information, reaffirmed the Army’s loyalty to the Constitution.
Speaking at the occasion, Gov. Ahmed Ododo described the initiative as “a clear statement that every resident’s safety was the government’s top priority in Kogi.
Ododo warned criminal groups, saying “Your time is running out,” and stressed that Kogi’s strategic North-South gateway makes security a national duty.
He highlighted two years of gains, absorbing 2,752 vigilantes, recruiting hunters across 21 local government areas, and creating a Quick Response Unit with vehicles, motorcycles, vests, and communications gear.
“These drones give us eyes in the sky to deny criminals any hiding place,” Ododo said.
He thanked President Bola Tinubu and the nation’s security chiefs for their support, and praised State Security Adviser, Cdr. Jerry Omodara retired for reshaping the state’s security architecture.
The governor urged citizens to share intelligence, stressing, “Silence protects criminals; cooperation protects communities.”
The Commander, 12 Brigade, Brig. -Gen. Kasim Sidi and Commissioner of Police, Naziru Kankarofi, described the initiative as a significant step in the state’s security capabilities and technological advancement.
They commended the governor for fostering synergies among security agencies and for positioning Kogi at the forefront of security innovation.
Sidi emphasised that the drones will boost force effectiveness and spur local tech development to build safer communities.
Earlier, Omodara said that the drones would provide real-time aerial surveillance, terrain mapping, and rapid intelligence across forest corridors and border routes.
“They will act as force multipliers, extending our agencies’ reach and reducing risk to personnel,” he added.
According to him, the drones will close intelligence gaps, offering “eyes in the sky” to monitor suspicious movements and disrupt criminal supply lines.Omodara said that operators from the Nigerian Army, Police, and DSS have completed three months of training and are ready to fly the drones, interpret data, and follow strict rules of engagement.