ABUJA – The Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani, has set social media ablaze after announcing a plan to deploy 5,000 AI-enabled cameras to track terrorists in Plateau State. While the government is pitching this as a “cutting-edge” solution to the recent Jos North massacres, Nigerians are asking one simple, stinging question: With which electricity?
The irony was lost on no one. Just hours before the Minister’s high-tech pitch, President Tinubu himself was forced to cut his condolence visit to Jos short because the airport lacked enough light for his jet to take off after sunset.
“NEPA vs. Artificial Intelligence”
Critics were quick to point out the absurdity of installing power-hungry AI surveillance in a state where the local airport can’t even keep the runway lights on for the Commander-in-Chief.
“You want to put AI cameras in the bush to catch terrorists, but the President had to run away from the airport in 10 minutes because of darkness?” one viral post mocked. “Is the AI going to run on ‘Renewed Hope’ or AA batteries?”
The TikTok Bandit Conundrum
The second jab at the Minister’s plan involves the brazenness of Nigeria’s outlaws. While the government talks about “unearthing” hidden killers with expensive cameras, bandits are currently “live-streaming” their exploits on TikTok, flaunting bundles of ransom cash and heavy weaponry without a care in the world.
When asked why these “digital-native” criminals haven’t been neutralized despite their very public online presence, government aides like Daniel Bwala claimed the bandits use satellite internet and foreign SIM cards to stay invisible to local trackers. However, the arrest of a few “TikTok bandits” like Sule Yellow and Abubakar Usman in recent months hasn’t been enough to silence the skeptics who feel the government is chasing “AI shadows” while the real threat is posting dancing videos on social media.
A ₦11 Billion Distraction?
For the grieving families in Angwan Rukuba, the promise of 5,000 cameras feels like cold comfort. With the APC currently being hammered for spending ₦11 billion on a single convention while victims are told there is “no money in millions” for their relief, the AI project is being viewed by many as another expensive “tech-distraction.”
As Bosun Tijani insists that this technology worked in Lagos, the people of Plateau are waiting to see if the cameras will actually catch a terrorist—or if they’ll just become 5,000 expensive ornaments hanging in the dark.
