STAKEHOLDERS at the maiden South-East Regional Security Summit have called for investments in geospatial mapping, CCTV systems, forensic capabilities, automated vehicle identification, digital databases, emergency communication platforms, and professional surveillance infrastructure.
They said the investment in technological equipment like drones would help security agencies in their fight against terrorism, kidnaping and other social vices.
The stakeholders gave the advice in a communique issued at the end of the First South-East Regional Security Summit held on Thursday in Umuahia, Abia.
The communique was signed by Rear Admiral Olusanya Bankole, Special Adviser to the Minister of Defence on Civil-Military Relations.
The summit, themed “Collaborative Approaches to Strengthen Security and Regional Stability” was convened by the Federal Ministry of Defence, in collaboration with the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Community Engagement, South-East.
The stakeholders noted the importance of developing a shared regional database to ease tracing of criminals who operate in one state while residing in another.
They urged the development of a shared regional database of wanted persons, criminal networks, kidnappers, arms traffickers, drug dealers, stolen vehicles dealers, and other persons or assets associated with criminal activities.
“The summit observed that checkpoints alone were insufficient to defeat mobile and technologically enabled criminal groups, and therefore called for greater investment in drones.
“It further asked for investments in geospatial mapping, CCTV systems, forensic capabilities, automated vehicle identification, digital databases, emergency communication platforms, and professionally managed surveillance infrastructure.”
According to the communique, the summit also observed that although the security situation in the South-East had recorded appreciable improvement, the region continues to face threats from kidnappings, armed robbery, politically motivated violence.
“It also faced other threats such as attacks on security personnel and public facilities, illicit arms proliferation, cultism, drug abuse, misinformation, criminal activities within forested areas, and the violent enforcement of unlawful sit-at-home directives.”
The summit noted that insecurity in the region transcends state boundaries as criminal elements frequently operated across neighboring states, thereby making isolated state-level responses inadequate.
It also recognised that no single government, institution, security agency or state can effectively address the prevailing security challenges without sustained regional collaboration, coordinated action, and the active participation of all stakeholders.
The summit acknowledged that security is a shared responsibility, requiring the involvement of the federal, state, and local governments, security agencies, traditional institutions, religious leaders.
It also noted the need for contributions from town unions, civil society organizations, the private sector, the media, youth and women groups, transport unions, neighborhood associations, and individual citizens.
It also observed that peace and security were fundamental to economic prosperity, investment, industrialization, agriculture, commerce, education, tourism, social stability, and sustainable development in the South-East.
The summit blamed persistent insecurity for the disruption of commercial activities, farming, schooling, healthcare delivery, travel investment, and social interaction, weakening public confidence and limiting the productive potentials of the region.
It also observed that unemployment, youth frustration, drug abuse, political manipulation, social exclusion, unresolved grievances, and inadequate government presence created conditions that criminal elements exploited for their exclusionary ends.
The summit featured opening and goodwill remarks, a synopsis of the Security Session in the South-East by the Office of the National Security Adviser, and a keynote address by former Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Azubuike Ihejirika, (Rtd)
It featured an interactive panel session, and contributions from veterans and security consultants and other stakeholders.
The deliberations focused particularly on the South East’s security situation and integration of approaches, community policing, intelligence, intelligence sharing, collaborative responses to strengthen security and regional stability.
Present at the summit were the Minister of Defence, Gen Christopher Musa, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Alhaji Mohammed Idris, Minister of Technology and Innovation, Dr Kingsley Udeh.
Others were Gov. Alex Otti of Abia, other South-East governors’ representatives, Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Aneke, Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Idi Abbas, the representatives of Inspector General of Police, and the President of the Senate, Sen. Godswill Akpabio and other relevant stakeholders.
(NAN)
A.I
July 31, 2026
Tags: Air Marshal Sunday Aneke Alhaji Mohammed Idris Gen Christopher Musa Sen. Godswill Akpabio Vice Admiral Idi Abbas
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