Group Seeks Mass Recruitment of Security Personnel, Deployment of Drones to Tackle Insecurity

The Southern Nigeria People's Mandate (SNPM) has called on President Bola Tinubu to approve a large-scale recruitment of security personnel and invest in drone technology to address Nigeria’s worsening insecurity.

Speaking to journalists in Enugu on Sunday, SNPM Chairman, Augustine Chukwudum, said the current number of security operatives was insufficient to effectively tackle banditry and terrorism across the country.

He argued that the shortage of personnel has allowed criminal groups to operate for extended periods without resistance, particularly in parts of northern Nigeria where, he said, insecurity has persisted for over a decade.

Chukwudum warned that the situation is spreading beyond the North, with signs of similar patterns emerging in the South-West. He added that the increasing pressure on security agencies has made it difficult to contain the threat.

According to him, some security personnel have remained on the frontlines for years, confronting armed groups under challenging conditions. He expressed concern over what he described as rising casualties and uncertainty among citizens.

The SNPM chairman further alleged that armed non-state actors have taken control of large areas of farmland in parts of the North, imposing levies on local communities and carrying out kidnappings for ransom. He said these developments are contributing to rising food prices and economic strain.

Chukwudum urged the federal government to fulfil its pledge to deploy advanced surveillance tools, including drones, to strengthen security operations. He also called for intensified efforts to curb the circulation of illicit drugs, which he linked to violent crime among young people.

The group’s recommendations come amid ongoing national debate over strategies to address insecurity and protect livelihoods across the country.