Presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), Omoyele Sowore, has called for a technology-driven approach to tackling insecurity in Nigeria, while insisting that the country’s security crisis is deeply connected to economic inequality and social exclusion.
Sowore made the remarks during an interview on Arise Television on Thursday, May 28, 2026, while discussing his plans to address terrorism, kidnapping, banditry, and other security challenges if elected president.
During the interview, the presenter noted that while many Nigerians agree insecurity is linked to poverty and inequality, criminal activities such as banditry and terrorism have also evolved into heavily armed criminal enterprises.
Responding, Sowore agreed with the assessment and outlined what he described as immediate and long-term solutions to the crisis. “So, let’s take it this way. There are short-term measures that must be taken regarding security,” he said.
According to him, security agencies must aggressively target criminal groups and improve operational efficiency through technology and stronger leadership. “To get these guys out of wherever they’re hiding, make sure that we pursue and liquidate them. We have to have equipments. We have to use technology,” Sowore stated.
The AAC presidential candidate also criticized the current security structure, alleging that some senior officials are distracted from their core responsibilities. “We have to have honest leaders and supervisors and officers who are not staying in Abuja fighting over land, but actually fighting wars. Generals who can actually strategize and do what is right,” he said.
Sowore further called for a more effective police force focused on internal security rather than political enforcement. “Have a police force that can carry out internal security of the country, and not escorting people or arresting people for insulting people on Facebook,” he added.
In one of the interview’s most striking remarks, Sowore emphasized his belief in the use of modern surveillance and military technology, declaring that drones would play a central role in his security strategy.
“And I have said it, and I’ll repeat it here again, to the utter surprise of everybody, that if I become Nigeria’s president tomorrow, my Minister of Defense will be a drone. That’s how much I believe in technology. And that drone will fly everywhere,” Sowore stated.
When the presenter jokingly suggested that artificial intelligence could also become the Minister of Defence, Sowore responded positively, saying technology would help authorities monitor and eliminate terrorist threats more effectively. “Yes. I’m just going to have a control centre where people sit down and just track terrorists and liquidate them,” he said.
Despite advocating strong military measures, Sowore stressed that long-term security can only be achieved by addressing unemployment, poverty, and lack of access to education. “But ultimately, you must create a society where people can find jobs, go to school,” he stated.