The newly unveiled assets include two advanced surveillance drones, 10 Hilux 4×4 patrol vehicles, 40 motorcycles, 400 bulletproof vests, and 400 bulletproof helmets.

Speaking during the inauguration ceremony held on Monday at the Government House, Enugu, Governor Mbah expressed appreciation to the ESSTF Board of Trustees for their continued commitment to enhancing security in the state.

He noted that the new equipment will reinforce the administration’s ongoing investments in public safety, such as the state-of-the-art Command and Control Centre, AI-powered surveillance cameras deployed across the state, and more than 150 Distress Response Squad vehicles equipped with AI-enabled cameras.

He observed that the administration’s achievements and humongous vision would have come to naught without the security of lives and property, but assured that his government would not rest on its oars and would continue to cooperate with the President Bola Tinubu Administration, which he said was working tirelessly to make sure the country is safe and secure.

“The security challenges we are having are local, and at the state level, we must also play our own role to ensure our localities are safe. So, these items will be deployed to ensure Enugu State remains the safest state in this country.

“We can confidently say that violent crimes have been reduced by over 80 per cent in Enugu State today. But as you know, we are not resting on our laurels because the criminals and bad elements we are dealing with are not resting, but are looking for any opportunity to breach our security.

“Security is one sector you may have scored 90 per cent, but just one breach can undermine all the successes you have accomplished. That is why we must invest heavily in equipment and infrastructure that enable us to nip crime in the bud and act quickly when one has been committed. That is why today’s event is reinforcing,” Mbah stated.

Earlier in his remarks, Ike Chioke, the chairman of ESSTF, who was represented by a member of the ESSTF Board of Trustees, Nath Udeh, said there was no longer any hiding place for criminals, adding that the inaugurated items would boost the governor’s efforts to position Enugu as the safest state to live and invest in.

He assured that ESSTF would do more, noting that the drastic improvement in security under the Mbah Administration was visible in the number of visitors and businesses presently coming into the state.

“Despite the number of flights now coming into Enugu, if you do not book on time, you do not get a seat. That tells you the amount of traffic now coming into Enugu. Some companies also want to have their retreats and a couple of assignments here in Enugu. These are signs to show that there is something nice happening here,” he added.

Throwing more light on the security items, the Executive Secretary of ESSTF, Engr. Chinedu Ani, explained that the two Vertical Take-off and Landing (VTOL) drones would enable operations in any kind of terrain, as they would not need a runway to take off.

“The drones also have a coverage and a range of 100km and as far as I know, from this spot (Command and Control Centre), which is where we normally take off, the longest air distance in Enugu here is 90km. So, it has the capability to go beyond Enugu State. And also, we can cruise at 120km per hour. They are quite fast.

“Each drone has several cameras, including thermal camera, night vision and daytime vision. Those cameras can zoom up to so many kilometres from the position of the drone. So, it is a very powerful equipment that has a lot of technologies. The cameras are also AI-equipped. So, they can do a lot of analysis. With the drones, we now have additional capability to track suspects, vehicles, and human beings anywhere within the state,” he explained.

Rev. Onyekachi Onyia, a Trustee of ESSTF and the Anglican Bishop of Enugu Diocese, justified the heavy investment in security, highlighting the state’s strategic place in the security and stability of the entire South East and the defunct Eastern Region.

“We know the consequences of leaving Enugu porous. If terrorists are able to get through Enugu, the South East is finished. It will not end well,” he stated.

The donations were made both physically and online during the fundraising dinner organised by the State Trust Fund at the Old Government Lodge, Enugu.

More than N3 billion was realized from individuals and corporate bodies.

In his opening remarks, Dr. Ike Chioke, the chairman, board of Trustees of the Fund and group managing director of Afrinvest West Africa Ltd., while commending the Dr. Peter Mbah administration for the huge impact and investments made in the area of security, including the constitution and inauguration of the Board of Trustees of the Enugu State Security Trust Fund a year ago, stressed that security was everybody’s business.

He said the only way to achieve the $30 billion GDP mark set by the governor was by sustaining and consolidating the successes made in securing lives and property through contributions by citizens, corporate bodies and all levels of government.

“So, our target is N20 billion. Our population as a state is well over 5 million people. We think that 2 million working adults in the state, assuming each person contributing N1,000 every month, that is N2 billion a month already. If you get N2 billion naira a month for 12 months, it means that the citizens alone can raise N24 billion. That is for individuals alone before adding the government. That tells you our capacity,” he asserted.

Governor Mbah, on his path, recalled the grave security situation at the time his administration came on board, noting that there was no room for complacency despite the massive successes.

“Back then, criminals gleefully posted bodies of security personnel and the arms they had stolen through their brazenly regular attacks.

“But what difference 20 months make! Such wanton attacks have been pushed to the darkest recess of history. We have gained control of our streets. The outlaws who once held our people hostage have either been neutralized or fled.

“The pleasant experience arising from the vastly improved security is widespread: The businessman who could not open his shop and incurred losses as a result has found the confidence to do so; the child, who could not go to school every Monday in the past can now confidently do so without any fear; our security men and women can now carry on their law-enforcement duties without any brazen attack.

“But our job is not done yet; it needs to be sustained,” he said.

Highlighting the massive investments of his administration in security, Mbah said there was much more to be done through concerted effort.

“We have invested substantially in securing our state, and continue to do so, because there are no half measures in the fight against insecurity.

“The Enugu State Command and Control Centre is a logistical novelty built via cutting-edge innovation comparable to what exists in more advanced countries.

“It was a moment of pride for us when it was commissioned in January to national acclaim, by the President.

“Even when no security official is in sight, our round-the-clock surveillance system that covers our streets and neighbourhoods still ensures strict vigilance. The ultimate goal is to nip crime in the bud.

“This crime-fighting device is complemented by the Distress Response Squad, designed to react swiftly to any security breach or threat of it.

“It is also further boosted by a large fleet of 150 security vehicles embedded with AI-enhanced cameras deployed across the state.

“But enthroning a water-tight security, such as we are implementing in Enugu State, requires a humongous amount of funds to sustain,” Mbah explained.

Critical stakeholders at the event, including the business mogul and philanthropist, Prince  Arthur Ezeh, commended Mbah for his strides in security and infrastructural development.

“Enugu is the capital of Igboland. The governor has character like Mbakwe, like M.I Okpara, who I knew from childhood. This man – Governor Mbah – in less than one year transformed Enugu State. And because of what he has done in Enugu State, I became very happy as an Igboman and happy that we have people who are very intelligent,” Prince Ezeh said.