The Department of State Services (DSS) says plans are underway to commence the production of its own Unmanned Ariel Vehicles (UAVs) also known as drones, AK-47s, and other weapons that would be used by the service, and possibly sell it to other agencies.
Director-General of the secret police, Yusuf Bichi, who disclosed this at the graduation ceremony of the Executive Intelligence Management Course (EIMC) 16 participants in Abuja, on Saturday said weapons produced by the personnel will soon be unveiled.
The spy master, who explained that the DSS will soon begin to “produce what it eats and eat what it produces”, stressed that UAVs are among the weapons the Secret Service will soon unveil, and when the plans materialise, the service would deploy the weapon across the country.
He said, “We shall support the institute in its training programmes. I care for the welfare of our staff, both active and retired. We shall never go back on that. We’ll also continue to pay attention to our research and development.”
Sokoto probe panel: I’m ready to return vehicles auctioned to me – Former dep gov
These are the best moments of my life – Professor Aminu Dorayi
“In fact, sooner or later we shall start eating what we produce, and we produce what we eat. This is coded. It means we shall start deploying some of the assets we have or the platforms we produce by ourselves, including Unmanned Area Vehicles. We are producing our own AK-47.
“When we reach the destination, we will save the country from the pains of the resources being chunked out to buy such weapons,” the DG of the secret police told the gathering attended by the Vice President, Kashim Shettima; Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi; Femi Otedola, among other prominent Nigerians.
The DSS boss noted that this was to reduce the heavy reliance on foreign countries for weapons and the huge resources for the procurement of such weapons, adding that it would not relent in providing other security agencies with credible intelligence.
Bichi also advised the people of Plateau and Kaduna, saying, “Now is time for you and me to return Plateau to its 1970s situation where Plateau or Jos was seen as a tourist, attractive state or city. But with conflict, all the industries in Plateau are gone. No peace. You are idle. So please, turn your hostilities into jobs.”