In its bid to tackle insecurity in Niger State, the state government has disclosed plans to partner with the Federal Government to deploy drones and other Information and Communication Technology (ICT) equipment against the fight.
This was disclosed by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Alhaji Ibrahim Matane, in a chat with reporters in Minna.
“In Niger State, we are working with the Federal Government to deploy drones and other Information and Communication Technology (ICT) equipment to tackle the security challenges facing the state owing to our large landmass.
The state government was already working with the police, army, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), the Air Force and the local vigilance groups to secure the state, Matane added.
“The state government is spending huge sums of money to maintain the security agencies to carry out their duties,” he said.
Continuing, he said: “The major unsecured local government areas we have in Niger State are Rafi, Munya, Shiroro Mariga, Mashegu and Lapai.”
He said the local government areas were bordering Kaduna, Zamfara, Kogi and Kebbi states, adding that the suspected bandits were coming into the state from these neighbouring states.
“Many of these suspected bandits cross over from the neighbouring states to cause havoc in Niger State and go back to those states.
“Sometimes when they come to rustle cattle, they also kidnap people.
“Recently, we traced 18,000 cattle rustled in Niger State to Zamfara State,” the SSG said.
He said inadequate personnel and equipment had been a major setback in tackling the security challenges facing the country.
He, therefore, called for the recruitment of enough personnel into the security forces and the provision of modern equipment and training for them.
Source: Thenation
