Key Takeaways
- Plateau State has begun deploying CCTV cameras and floodlights across Jos and surrounding communities after repeated gun attacks.
- President Bola Tinubu promised an AI-enabled network of over 5,000 digital cameras after the March 29 attack in Angwan Rukuba.
- Reports indicate more than 313 people have been killed in Plateau State this year alone.
- Security experts and residents warn that without maintenance, monitoring, and community support, the project could become another failed promise.
A Long-Awaited Response
Months after President Bola Tinubu visited Plateau State to console victims of the March 29 gun attack in Angwan Rukuba, Jos North Local Government Area, the promised security infrastructure is finally taking shape. Closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras and floodlights have now been installed across Jos and several other communities, giving residents a glimmer of hope after weeks of continued violence.
Tinubu had pledged to deploy an AI-enabled network of more than 5,000 digital cameras to assist law enforcement agencies. In the weeks that followed, more attacks and killings were recorded while residents waited. The recent deployment is therefore being watched with cautious optimism.
Joyce Ramnap, the State Commissioner for Information and Communication, said the devices were approved to curb crime, reduce threats, and cut down darkness in areas including Angwan Rukuba, Bauchi Road, University of Jos, Mado, Yelwan Zangam, and Gangare.
Beyond the Cameras
Security experts note that CCTV alone cannot end attacks, but it is a powerful tool for deterrence, real-time tracking, and evidence collection, particularly when linked to an early warning system. The technology delivers results only when integrated into a broader, well-funded security strategy.
Past failures loom large. The CCTV project in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory, is often cited as an example of mismanagement and wasted resources. Without reliable power, functioning control rooms, and trained personnel to monitor feeds around the clock, these gadgets risk becoming expensive decorations on poles.
Maintenance and Sabotage Risks
There are also questions about maintenance and sustainability. Officials must budget for power, technicians, data storage, and periodic servicing before the cameras go live. A monitoring and response centre with trained staff should already be in place.
Sabotage is an equally serious threat. Those who profit from kidnapping and communal attacks may target the infrastructure. The cameras, poles, and control rooms must be protected as critical assets from day one.
Communities Must Be Carried Along
Public trust is essential. Residents are the first line of intelligence, so they need to know where the cameras are located, how the data will be used, who is watching, and how to report faults. Community leaders, vigilantes, and civil society groups should play a role in both deployment and oversight. Without this buy-in, the system may fail before it proves itself.
Plateau people have heard many promises in the past. This project offers a real chance to turn the tide if it is treated as a serious security investment rather than a publicity exercise. The challenge is to make these gadgets operational, not ornamental. The operators must act with responsibility, and the public must jealously guard the infrastructure.
Why This Matters
This deployment is a critical test of whether Plateau can translate political promises into lasting protection. If the cameras are maintained, monitored, and supported by communities, they could mark a turning point in the fight against recurring violence.