Nigerian technology startup Terra Industries unveiled interceptor drones and mine-clearing unmanned vehicles on Monday as part of new defence systems the military said could help in its anti-insurgency operations.
Nigeria has grappled with an Islamist insurgency for over 17 years and this year, militants have stepped up attacks against army positions using improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and drones.
Terra had until now focused on civilian drones and other security equipment.
Terra CEO Nathan Nwachukwu said, “We are unveiling new defence systems such as our interceptor Unmanned Aerial Vehicles, our minesweepers, ground vehicles that can detect IEDs on the ground, and our battlefield intelligence software.”
Major General Babatunde Alaya, who heads Nigeria’s state-run military-industrial corporation DICON, said collaboration with Terra Industries was necessary given high troop casualties from improvised explosive devices.
—Reuters—
