Ben Ezechime, Enugu
Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State has inaugurated an array of hi-tech security equipment and patrol vehicles procured by the Enugu State Security Trust Fund (ESSTF) to further strengthen the security of lives and property in the state.
While unveiling the items, Mbah thanked the ESSTF Board of Trustees for their commitment to improving security in the state. He noted that the new assets would complement his administration’s earlier investments, including the state-of-the-art Command and Control Centre, AI-enabled surveillance cameras, and more than 150 Distress Response Squad vehicles equipped with AI-embedded cameras.
According to the governor, the administration’s achievements and ambitious vision would amount to nothing without the safety of lives and property.
He pledged that his government would continue to intensify efforts and maintain strong cooperation with President Bola Tinubu’s administration, which he said was working tirelessly to ensure the country’s security.
“The security challenges we are having are local, and at the state level, we must also play our role to ensure our localities are safe. These items will be deployed to ensure Enugu State remains the safest state in this country.
“We can confidently say that violent crimes have reduced in Enugu State today, but we are not resting on our laurels because the criminals and bad elements we are dealing with are not resting.
“Security is one sector where you may have scored 90 per cent, but just one breach can undermine all the successes you have accomplished. That is why we must invest heavily in equipment and infrastructure that enable us to nip crime in the bud and act quickly when one has been committed. Today’s event is reinforcing that commitment,” he said.
Earlier, the Chairman of ESSTF, Ike Chioke, represented by a Board of Trustees member, Nathaniel Udeh, said criminals no longer have hiding places in Enugu. He noted that the equipment would further boost the governor’s efforts to position Enugu as the safest state to live and invest in.
He assured that the ESSTF would continue to do more, stressing that the remarkable improvement in security under the Mbah administration was evident in the rising number of visitors and businesses coming into the state.
“Despite the number of flights now coming into Enugu, if you do not book on time, you won’t get a seat. That tells you the amount of traffic now coming into Enugu. Some companies also want to hold their retreats and assignments here. These are signs that something good is happening,” he added.
Items inaugurated include two state-of-the-art drones, 10 Hilux (4×4) vehicles, 40 motorcycles, 400 bulletproof vests, and 400 bulletproof helmets.
Providing further details, the Executive Secretary of ESSTF, Engr. Chinedu Ani, explained that the two Vertical Take-off and Landing (VTOL) drones could operate in any terrain since they do not require a runway.
“The drones have a coverage range of 100km. From this spot—the Command and Control Centre—the longest air distance in Enugu is 90km, so they can go beyond the state. They can also cruise at 120km per hour. They are quite fast.
“Each drone has several cameras, including thermal, night vision, and daytime vision. These cameras can zoom several kilometres from the drone’s position. They are AI-equipped and capable of advanced analysis. With the drones, we now have additional capability to track suspects, vehicles, and human beings anywhere within the state,” he said.
A Trustee of ESSTF and Anglican Bishop of Enugu Diocese, Rt. Rev. Onyekachi Onyia, justified the heavy investment in security, stressing Enugu’s strategic importance to the South East and the defunct Eastern Region.
“We know the consequences of leaving Enugu porous. If terrorists are able to get through Enugu, the South East is finished. It will not end well,” he warned.
