TheCable

Zakari Abubakar, brigade commander of the 32 artillery brigade, Owena barracks, Akure, Ondo state, says the days of kidnappers in Ondo and Ekiti are over.

Speaking while launching a drone at Osi community in Akure north local government area of Ondo state, Abubakar said security operatives are ready to comb the forests in the two states to identify movements and activities of suspected criminals.

He said the drone, Phantom 5DGI, which is the latest in aerial surveillance technology, can cover up to seven kilometres radius and is capable of recording and transmitting reports “back to base”.

“In recent times, the cases of kidnappings increased in Ondo and Ekiti States and the general officer commanding, GOC, 2 Division, General O.F Azinta directed that we must do everything possible to bring the criminality in both states to an end,” he said.

The commander and some of the reporters at the briefing

“There are thick forests in these states and that’s the advantage some of the criminals are using. Some places you cannot penetrate them easily. So in line with the chief of army staff’s directive to have a responsive Nigeria Army in the discharge of its constitutional role, we decided to use technology in addition to the anti kidnap squad. We have two of this drone, one for Ondo and the other one for Ekiti atate.

“The two anti-kidnapping squads will have each one mounted on a vehicle. Once there is issue of kidnapping they will immediately launch it, particularly in places that cannot be easily access.

“The device is the latest in the market, we decided to go for it with the support of my GOC. It can go on its own and it can avoid all obstacles. The resolution is one of the highest resolution and it can go up to seven kilometers radius.

“With its launching at Osi, we have been able to map out the vast forests and studied it, so our men can move in. I can tell you that days of kidnappers are over in Ondo and Ekiti.”