Oyo to Receive Two Surveillance Aircraft in July as Makinde Moves to Strengthen Security Operations

The Oyo State Government has confirmed that the two Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) aircraft acquired to boost security operations across the state will be delivered before the end of July 2026 after delays caused by the assembly process by the manufacturers.

The state Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Dotun Oyelade, disclosed this after the State Executive Council meeting held at the Governor’s Office, Ibadan, explaining that the government had initially expected the aircraft to arrive earlier but the process of assembling the components by the Chinese manufacturers took longer than anticipated.

The aircraft, identified as Diamond DA42 MNG Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance aircraft, were procured by the Oyo State Government at a total cost of N7.763 billion as part of efforts to improve aerial monitoring, intelligence gathering and rapid response to security threats across the state.

The Oyo State Government said the aircraft are expected to strengthen surveillance around the state’s borders, particularly areas bordering Kwara State and the Republic of Benin, where intelligence gathering is considered critical to preventing criminal activities and improving response capabilities.

The development comes amid heightened security concerns in the state, especially following the abduction of pupils and teachers in Oriire Local Government Area, where more than 40 victims were kidnapped from schools before their eventual rescue by security operatives after weeks in captivity.

Governor Seyi Makinde was reported to have expressed his desire for the aircraft to have been operational during the rescue operation involving the Oriire victims, but noted that the decision to deploy the aircraft depended on technical and professional assessments from the manufacturers.

The government explained that safety and technical standards had to be prioritised rather than rushing the deployment of the aircraft due to public pressure, noting that proper installation and testing were necessary before they could be fully integrated into security operations.

The acquisition of the ISR aircraft is part of broader measures by the Makinde administration to improve the state’s security architecture through technology-driven intelligence gathering, surveillance and faster intervention during security emergencies.

The aircraft will provide security agencies with enhanced capacity to monitor difficult terrains, track suspicious movements, support ground operations and improve coordination among agencies involved in maintaining peace and security across Oyo State.

The Commissioner further stated that the aircraft had earlier arrived at the Nigerian Air Force hangar in Ikeja, Lagos, where assembly work commenced, but the final operational deployment was delayed until all technical requirements were completed.

The state government said the arrival and deployment of the aircraft will complement existing security measures and support ongoing efforts to protect residents, particularly those living in rural communities and border areas vulnerable to criminal activities.

The move represents one of the major security investments by the Oyo State Government as it continues to push for stronger intelligence-led policing and improved collaboration with security agencies to tackle emerging threats across the state.

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