Gombe University Deploys Drones and CCTV to Secure Campus and Protect Students and the Community

Segun Awofadeji in Gombe

Gombe State University (GSU) has begun using drones, particularly at night, to improve surveillance and safeguard the lives and property of students and other occupants on campus.

Vice‑Chancellor Prof. Sani Yauta revealed the initiative during a meeting of the University Community Relations Committee held yesterday. He also announced that the university has installed comprehensive CCTV cameras at key locations across the campus to deter crime, enhance monitoring, and protect students.

Yauta cited recent theft incidents, including the arrest of an individual who allegedly stole five motorcycles belonging to different people, as evidence of the need for stronger security measures.

The vice‑chancellor assured stakeholders that the university is treating security with utmost seriousness and will continue to ensure the safety of students and the surrounding community.

Regarding admissions, Yauta stated that the university has set a general cut‑off score of 150 and a cut‑off of 200 for law and medical programs. He explained that admission into a chosen course will also depend on competition within the applicant’s local government area, even if the other requirements are met.

“Candidates who do not secure placement in their preferred courses may be offered alternative programmes,” he added.

He encouraged parents to allow their children to study any course offered, emphasizing that every discipline offers valuable opportunities for personal and professional development.

Yauta also expressed concern about animals encroaching on campus, damaging plants and landscaping that the government has invested heavily in. He praised committee members for their cooperation and urged them to address the animal problem.

Mrs. Orpha Gabriel, an official of the National Drugs Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in the state, urged the university to implement drug testing for students and to establish a drug‑free club. She argued that such measures would deter drug abuse and trafficking through continuous reminders of its harms.

Sale Danburam, Secretary of Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI), advised the university to prosecute a former student accused of theft to serve as a deterrent to others.

Yaya Hammari, an elder statesman, praised the university’s management for its efforts benefiting students and the wider community, and pledged ongoing support.

All other speakers commended the university’s initiative and urged the management to maintain it through regular meetings.