Plateau Police Crack Down on Illegal Drone Flights Over Escalating Security Concerns

The Plateau State Police Command has issued an uncompromising directive targeting the sudden proliferation of unauthorized Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS), commonly known as drones, across the state's airspace. This regulatory crackdown comes at a fragile time when security agencies are working round the clock to consolidate peace in a region historically plagued by ethno-religious tension and rural banditry.

In an official advisory, police authorities emphasized that the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) remains the sole statutory body empowered by federal law to license and approve the operation of drones in Nigeria. According to security reports, the arbitrary deployment of these aerial devices without explicit clearance from both the NCAA and the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) constitutes a direct violation of national security protocols.

Intelligence sources indicate that rogue actors and syndicated criminal groups are increasingly exploring low-cost consumer technology, including commercial drones, for espionage and tactical reconnaissance. Security forces operating in volatile local government areas such as Mangu, Barkin Ladi, and Riyom have raised alarms that unauthorized drone flights could compromise ongoing military and police maneuvers, exposing troop positions to hostile elements.