•Residents task Ododo on drones to rid Kogi of bandits, others
Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, has called for concerted efforts to tackle Africa’s evolving security threats, cyberattacks and maritime security challenges.

He described the threats as complex, transnational, and increasingly asymmetric, hence they required not just national resilience, but a strong continental cooperation.

Speaking at the opening of the first African Defence Chiefs of Staff Summit (ADCSS) in Abuja, yesterday, Matawalle stressed that “Africa’s security challenges must be driven by African solutions, African leadership, and African unity.”

At the event, themed “Combating Contemporary Threats to Regional Peace and Security in Africa: The Role of Strategic Defence Collaboration,” Matawalle stated: “No single country can secure the continent alone. We must work together, sharing intelligence, learning doctrine, and building trust among defence institutions. The future of warfare is digital, fast-moving, and unpredictable.

“We must work together as defence leaders. We must embrace innovation. We must invest in cyber defence, Artificial Intelligence, and indigenous military technologies.

“Africa must not just keep up with global threats. We must take the lead in shaping them. Let this summit serve as a platform for defence industrial collaboration, joint training, and planning.”

Earlier in his welcome address, Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Lt.-Gen. Christopher Musa noted that though Africa stands on the edge of unprecedented opportunity, driven by a vibrant youth population, vast resources, and a spirit of innovation, these promises were being challenged by a complex and evolving spectrum of security threats.

He said the scourge of violent extremism and terrorism, the menace of transnational organised crime, piracy and the insidious impacts of climate change challenge recognise no borders.

“They are hydra-headed, resilient, and demand a response that is equally dynamic, unified, and strategic. The choice of the theme of this summit, “Combating Contemporary Threats to Regional Peace and Security in Africa: The Role of Strategic Defence Collaboration is both timely and pertinent.”

Relatedly, Kogi State Governor, Ahmed Usman Ododo, has been urged to adopt drones in combing the forests for bandit camps via aerial surveillance and ground operations.

Residents of the Kogi East Senatorial District, through their socio-cultural organisations, made the appeal after an emergency meeting.

The leadership of Igala Cultural and Development Association (ICDA) and Ukomu Igala Organisation (UIO), in a joint statement, said the call has become necessary, considering the increasing activities of bandits, kidnappers and ritualists in the forests and on the highways, daily.

According to the statement signed by Elder David Abuka and Col Tijani Musa (rtd), the groups acknowledged the unwavering commitment of the Ododo’s administration to issues of security of lives and properties in the state.

The statement read in part: “We know our governor has committed his energies and resources in the fight against internal and external criminals, especially armed bandits and kidnappers. This is why we, at the community level, decided to complement the efforts of the state government by putting in place local security arrangements to support the Nigerian Police and Army deployed to safeguard our various communities.

“We wish to inform our governor that we know of state governments across the country that have deployed military with drones to expose camps of bandits hiding in the forests. And we realised that the strategy of deployment of drones has given security agencies in such states an edge over the criminals in the forests.

“Therefore, we urge Kogi State, under your leadership, to adopt the same security strategy as one of the effective strategies to rid Kogi forests of bandits and criminal elements that have continued to make life difficult for residents.”

Also speaking, heads of the Kogi East Neighborhood Watch (KENW) sought the government’s intervention through the deployment of military men trained in drone technology.

“We have realised that the 12 Brigade troops will achieve more results if they are equipped with drone security gadgets,” they added.