DEPLOYING UAVs OR DRONES IN TERROR PRONE NIGERIA

As the world celebrates Nelson Mandela 100 days, I join the global community of young people to celebrate and work together to rekindle hope for our generation and to stand alongside others for the dignity, equality and justice for all.

I would like to use this occasion to beam the light on the security challenges in Nigeria and by so doing recommend the use of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) otherwise known as Drones in curbing the menace posed by Terrorists in Nigeria today.

Given the security issues in Nigeria, where terrorists have found the space to operate at will; one would expect that everything will be done to put a stop to the present situation before it drives the country into civil war. Nigerians have seen and felt terror, in its dehumanizing ripeness, enough to expect the leadership in place to not keep still and let the taking of lives continue.

We are in an era where the Drone Technology is helping the Military and Security Agencies around the world to carryout surveillance, gather intelligence and fault attacks. The need to deploy Surveillance Drones or UAVs (Unmanned Aerial Vehicles) in the Nigerian Airspace should be glaring by now. The families of victims of these terror attacks, security agents inclusive deserve justice but, it seems that the Nigerian moral canvas has been tainted with thick blood-letting that cannot be washed off.

The body language towards deploying the Drone Technology or UAVs to boost the Nigerian security apparatus has left most of us wondering if we simply want to deny that we are in a revolutionary age where a new and sophisticated approach must be adopted. We act like everything is under control when in truth everything has gone out the window. Sadly enough, we are aware of this truth but still choose to bask in the euphoria of hope and inaction. Playing politics with lives and comparing statistics of the dead from administration to administration should not be the deal.

With the right Surveillance Drones or UAVs, deploying security agents to their deaths can be greatly minimized. Terrorists under whatever disguise will not find it so easy to attack and retreat into hiding. This technology is called Unmanned Aerial Vehicles for a reason; they can be deployed and controlled remotely and can travel at commendable speed above ground, through tougher weather conditions.

Some of us are inclined to ask: how exactly have we failed to recognize the potential of UAVs technology in Nigeria and what excuse do we have? In answer to the same question; the strategy to fighting terror and crime has to change with the times and security forces in Nigeria should be trained, authorized and funded to acquire surveillance technology and to deploy same as the situation dictates. For Nigeria, now is that time!