- As Police Pilots Conclude Specialized Training On Operations, Deployment.
IGP Usman Alkali Baba has purchased five (5) more high-powered Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) to boost surveillance operations and checkmate criminal activities in the country, in keeping with the IGP’s vision and mission statements, which include technology-driven policing.
The purchase demonstrates the IGP’s resolve to integrate the use of modern technology into the Nigeria Police Force’s law enforcement activities and, as a result, improve its intelligence gathering and operational skills. The drones will help the cops monitor current crime scenes, coordinate response activities, and provide aerial backup to officers on the ground.
The UAVs include an ALTI Transition, capable of covering up to 150km in a single flight with high endurance of up to 14 hours, and an Elistair Orion fixed-wing aircraft, capable of covering up to 92m altitude with high endurance of up to 50 hours and other sensitive and
forensic-based features. These UAVs will be remotely operated by police pilots from the Police Airwing who have undergone specialized training from Engineers of the Elistair company, who were flown in from France at the instance of the IGP, for a week-long training schedule, and have acquired technical skills and requisite know-how in the operation and maintenance of the procured UAVs.
The IGP has however directed the immediate, adequate, and strategic deployment of these drones to areas prone to high-security breaches, for monitoring and intelligence gathering to tackle criminality headlong.
The Inspector-General of Police has further reiterated the firm determination of the Police leadership to continue to explore avenues to enhance police intelligence-gathering capabilities and engage the application of cutting-edge technology in the fight against crime and criminality while seeking full cooperation from members of the public on intelligence gathering and vigilance.
