FUT Minna student develops AI-powered drone to support crime fighting

A final-year student of Computer Science at the Federal University of Technology, Minna (FUT Minna), Ejiga Peter Ojonugwa, has built an artificial intelligence-powered drone designed to assist investigators with real-time crime scene analysis.

According to a statement made available to newsmen, the drone, named Crime Eye, combines a lightweight DJI Tello quadcopter with a customised version of YOLOv3, an open-source neural network model capable of detecting weapons, vehicle plates, and other key objects in live video within milliseconds.

The system delivers up to 45 frames per second, enabling rapid detection and evidence gathering, which developers say could help security agencies respond faster to crimes such as kidnapping and armed robbery.

Ojonugwa, who first presented the innovation at the Student Innovation Challenge (SIC) in 2018, was among participants at the event where former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and the then NITDA Director, Dr Ali Pantami, gave a general commendation for the quality of student innovations showcased during the competition.

The SIC initiative, aimed at encouraging tech-driven solutions among undergraduates, has since provided support for projects like Crime Eye, which, according to the organisers, reflects the programme’s goal of producing future tech entrepreneurs.

Over the past year, the 24-year-old developer has expanded the drone’s capabilities by training the AI system with more data and enabling secure cloud storage to automatically upload flight information, tagged evidence, and investigator notes for possible courtroom use.

The drone also serves as a research platform for locally developed drone hardware within the university’s Computer Science department.

Although the project still faces challenges, including battery limitations and regulatory approval, observers who have witnessed its trial runs believe the technology could be a breakthrough in surveillance and criminal investigations, especially in hard-to-reach areas.

“Insecurity is everybody’s problem,” Ojonugwa said after a field test in Minna. “If we can give officers instant, AI-assisted insights, we not only speed up investigations, but we may also prevent the next attack altogether.”

With graduation approaching and efforts to secure a patent underway, Ojonugwa is in talks with venture capital firms and security tech companies to scale the project. If successful, Crime Eye could soon transition from a university prototype to a practical tool in Nigeria’s security operations.