Yobe Security Adviser Calls for Advanced Surveillance Technology to Defeat Boko Haram

Yobe Security Adviser Calls for Advanced Surveillance Technology to Defeat Boko Haram

By: Zagazola Makama

The Special Adviser on Security Matters to the Yobe State Government, Brig Gen Dahiru Abdulsalam has called on the Federal Government to invest heavily in modern surveillance technology and strategic international partnerships to strengthen Nigeria’s counterinsurgency operations.

The adviser made the call during an interview with defence correspondents in Damaturu, stressing that technology would determine the next phase of the war against Boko Haram and other terrorist groups.

According to him, although troops of Operation HADIN KAI and other security agencies had recorded significant operational successes, the vast operational environment and evolving tactics of insurgents required stronger technological support.

“Where the military cannot physically go, technology is required,” he said.

The adviser explained that Yobe had been grappling with insurgency since 2009, with several local government areas bordering Borno State and transnational routes frequently exploited by terrorists for logistics movement and attacks.

He noted that despite sustained military offensives, insurgents still attempt to infiltrate communities at night through remote corridors and forest routes.

“From 7 p.m. until early morning, we remain awake monitoring movements because many of the logistics routes pass through Yobe State,” he said.

He commended troops, hunters and intelligence agencies for sustaining pressure on insurgents despite operational fatigue and repeated troop redeployments across various theatres nationwide.

“It is not easy to remain in the theatre of operation for years. Soldiers get tired and burned out, but they continue holding the line,” he stated.

The adviser said Nigeria’s security challenges had overstretched the military due to deployments across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.

He therefore urged the Federal Government to strengthen the Nigeria Police Force and other internal security institutions to reduce pressure on the military.

According to him, surveillance systems, drones, sensors and modern monitoring equipment would significantly restrict terrorists’ freedom of movement and operational capacity.

“The moment terrorists move and they are observed immediately, they will lose freedom of action,” he said.

The adviser criticised what he described as a “vendor-driven procurement process,” arguing that security procurement should instead be based on operational needs identified by end users in the field.

He called for government-to-government strategic partnerships with technologically advanced countries capable of producing specialised surveillance and combat equipment tailored to Nigeria’s terrain and operational realities.

“We should partner with countries that have the capacity to produce equipment suitable for our own environment and security challenges,” he said.

He added that Nigeria currently lacked sufficient domestic technological capacity to independently develop advanced military surveillance systems required for modern counterterrorism warfare.

The adviser expressed optimism that with sustained military pressure, improved intelligence sharing and deployment of advanced surveillance technology, Boko Haram insurgency and other forms of violent criminality could be significantly degraded across the country.

He also reiterated the importance of continued support for local hunters, vigilantes and forest guards who assist troops in blocking infiltration routes and securing vulnerable rural communities.

Yobe Security Adviser Calls for Advanced Surveillance Technology to Defeat Boko Haram