Former Chief of Army Staff, retired Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, says artificial intelligence (AI), drones and integrated command systems can significantly improve Nigeria’s response to terrorism, banditry and kidnapping.

Buratai said this while delivering a keynote lecture at the Defence Correspondents Association of Nigeria (DECAN) Conference and Awards Ceremony on Monday in Abuja.

The theme of the conference is, “Beyond Kinetic Warfare: Harnessing Technology and Intelligence-Led Operations for Nigeria’s National Security”.

He noted that Nigeria needed to move beyond fragmented, manpower-intensive security operations towards technology-enabled systems that improved surveillance, intelligence sharing and operational decision-making.

The retired army chief cited the reported agreement between the Federal Ministry of Defence and the United Kingdom’s MARSS Group for the deployment of an AI-driven Command, Control, Communications, Computers and Intelligence (C4I) system.

He said the proposed system would integrate information from multiple sources, including sensors, drones, ground vehicles and maritime assets, to provide commanders with a common operational picture.

“In traditional counterinsurgency, information is delayed, incomplete and fragmented,” Buratai said.

He said integrated technology could shorten response times, improve situational awareness and support more informed decisions by commanders.

He also said that technology could offer a cost-effective way to monitor forests and other difficult terrain used by kidnappers and armed groups.

“You don’t need 1,000 men; you just need drones flying over those areas,” he said, adding that aerial surveillance could help security forces identify locations and plan rescue operations.

He however stressed that technology could not replace human intelligence, noting that information from local communities remained essential to understanding threats and determining appropriate responses.

“A drone’s signal intelligence can locate a target, but only people in the community can explain why that target matters and what action is most appropriate,” he said.

Buratai further called for greater investment in local technical capacity to operate and maintain advanced defence systems, warning that technology must become an integral part of routine operations rather than an isolated capability.

He also urged the government to strengthen inter-agency coordination and ensure that technological investments translated into measurable improvements in national security.

The former chief of army staff emphasised that an effective security architecture required a combination of technology, intelligence-led operations, community engagement and strategic communication.

The conference also featured the inauguration of DECAN’s maiden magazine, “The Defence Correspondent” aimed at strengthening professional defence reporting and public understanding of national security issues.