Adeleke flags missing security drones, directs procurement of new equipment in Osun

By Deborah Oladejo, Osogbo –

The Osun State Government is considering the acquisition of new security drones as Governor Ademola Adeleke disclosed that five surveillance drones allegedly paid for under the immediate past administration are missing.

The planned procurement emerged from a series of security meetings chaired by the governor over the last four days, during which the state’s security assets and operational capacity were reviewed.

A statement made available to journalists by the governor’s spokesperson, Mallam Olawale Rasheed, said records showed that five security drones were fully paid for during the administration of former Governor Gboyega Oyetola, but none was available when the Adeleke administration assumed office in 2022.

The statement also alleged that another security-related contract valued at about N300 million, awarded to connect the state security communication centre with Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs), was never executed.

It further claimed that the armoured vehicles linked to the arrangement were abandoned in different parts of the state until they were later recovered, refurbished and redeployed by the current administration.

Following deliberations at the security meetings, Adeleke directed his team to begin the process of acquiring new drones and other security gadgets to strengthen the state’s security architecture against crime and banditry.

“We are not interested in what happened in the past. Our goal is to acquire new drones and other needed equipment and materials for our formal and informal security networks to combat crime and banditry in this state,” the governor said.

He assured residents of his administration’s commitment to safety and urged them to report suspicious persons and movements to security agencies.