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| Professor Babagana Zulum Borno State Governor |
Borno State Governor, Professor Babagana Zulum, has called for a shift in Nigeria’s security architecture, urging stakeholders to deploy technology and Artificial Intelligence (AI) to combat rising security threats.
Speaking at the Kogi Security Summit on Tuesday in Abuja, Governor Zulum noted that traditional methods alone are no longer sufficient to defeat increasingly sophisticated criminal networks. He emphasized the need for the integration of surveillance drones, biometric tracking systems, and predictive analytics to help pre-empt attacks.
“For us to address insecurity, we need to adopt modern technological warfare. Technologies such as artificial intelligence and robotics are now being deployed globally to combat crime,” Zulum said.
Beyond the deployment of hardware, the governor stressed that security remains a collective responsibility. He urged citizens to “own the issues of insecurity” by actively participating in intelligence gathering and community policing, rather than leaving the fight solely to security agencies.
Zulum also charged authorities to address the root causes of insecurity, particularly poverty and infrastructure deficits. According to him, unemployment, hunger, and lack of basic amenities create fertile ground for recruitment by criminal elements.
“While it is critical to procure equipment such as vehicles, MRAPs, drones, and other facilities to confront insecurity, most importantly, without addressing underlying factors such as poverty, road infrastructure, and agriculture, insecurity will not end. I therefore urge that part of the funding be dedicated to addressing these issues,” he said.
He further emphasized that understanding the socio-economic and political dimensions of crises is vital to achieving lasting peace.
“Increasing poverty, climate vulnerabilities, infrastructural deficits, and illiteracy must be addressed if we want security in our communities,” Zulum added.
The governor reiterated that the protection of lives and property remains the primary responsibility of any administration, stressing the strong link between peace, security, and development.
“It is only when there is security that there will be peace, and without peace, there will be no development,” he stated.
Governor Zulum was accompanied by the member representing Marte, Monguno, and Nganzai Federal Constituency, Hon. Engr. Bukar Talba.