BY ABUBAKAR YUSUF
The Federal Government has improved tremendously the security situations in the country in the last one year.
The Minister of Police Affairs, State , Hajiya Imaan Suleiman-Ibrahim made this revelation during a media parley to mark the one year of the present administration in her office in Abuja on Tuesday.
She maintained that under the Renewed Hope Agenda of the current administration alot has been achieved to protect lives and properties of Nigerians.
She said the incidences of kidnapping, banditry, herders -farmers clashes and other criminalities has reduced drastically across the country.
“The recent arrests and parade of masterminds of Abuja -Kaduna train attack and 63 suspects for violent crimes along Kaduna/ Abuja expressway was a major achievements that had reduced insecurity and kidnappings in the country .”
She said the Federal government established a criminal Bank known as “National Criminal Data Fusion Center” to collate and checkmate the activities of criminal elements and criminalities across the country.
“In synergy with the Police authority, we established the “National Criminal Data Fusion Center ” (NCDFC), that provided an enabling environment where relevant law enforcement agencies worked together to collate accurate data of criminals, analyse and disseminate key criminal intelligence products to support internal security.”
“Not long after the establishment of the centre, considering the influx of people to the FCT, the seat of government, threats of criminal activities in boarder states and other states of the country, that bordered on kidnappings, banditry, among others vices through the establishment of anti- vices policies that had reduced to the barest minimum the crime rates and incidencies.” .”
The Minister stated that owing to unabated criminal activities, government also established anti -vices policies that had reduced generally crime rates across the country using special intervention squad (SIS).
“Having birthed the special intervention squad(SIS), in FCT in January, 2024, the Nigeria Police Force empowered communities through engagement and collaboration by tackling crimes and criminalities.”
“The Federal government through the special intervention squad SIS upscaled the tactical unit in FCT, across the country to tackle waves of banditry, kidnapping and violent crimes deploying the unit and counter terrorism, hostage rescue and intelligence analysis.”
She asserted that the use of technology, information and communication technology ICT has reduced human interference in high profile cases had assisted government in combating crimes.
“The Nigeria Police also deployed technology and Information and Communication Technology ICT to drive it’s activities across the country, with recognition to the prowess and transformative power of technology in modern law enforcement.”
” Government deployed through huge investment in surveillance systems, drones and communication technologies to enhance the force capacity and capabilities for real time information gathering and response.”
“The provision of 24/7 Internet service for West African Police System operated by NCIB/ Interpol officers engaged in the department that enabled the Data Collection and Registration Center (DACORE), established to be fully functional.”
“It established automated Police specialized services with unique reference number that can be validated globally and improved turnaround time for the application and processing of Police Character Certificate.”
“The signed Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), with INTERPOL had justified the commitment of the country to work for the greater good of the region and the world.”
“Under the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the government adopted a legal framework related to the West African Police Information System (WAPIS) , that gave a strong foundation for it’s operation ability among national law enforcement agencies.”
She ensured key agencies fully embraced the West African Police Information System (WAPIS) initiatives, as they are now equipped with the terminals, allowing them access to critical information that had significantly enhanced the collective efforts to combine crimes and criminalities.
The federal government invested heavily on forensic equipment through acquisition of gadgets for investigations. The Minister said.
” With the newly acquired forensic equipment for identification and investigation of perpetrators through acquisition of gadgets, reconstructive analysis, drones, pen and watch cameras, as well as infrared telescopes meant for intelligence gathering and fact verification was provided across board.”
“Constant physical raids of black spots in the FCT , across states of the Federation, had led to series of arrests of suspects numbering 1,190 in FCT, with states not left out of the exercise.”
“The Ministry of Police Affairs prioritised boarder operations to the FCT, especially Nassarawa, Niger , Kogi and Kaduna States with regular operations and checks.”
“With the establishment of SIS ,many suspects of various crimes have been apprehended, possession of unlicenced firearms, stolen vehicles, with arrests and recoveries.”
“With the involvement of Intelligence Response Unit (IRT) and Special Tactical Squad (STS) , under the directives of the IGP , an expansive upscaling of their activities has been implemented across states, hence improved security of lives and properties across the states of the country.”
” Combination of SIS, IRT and STS among other interventions, the kidnapping activities around notorious Zuma rock of neighborhood Niger state, Bwari area council of FCT, had reduced to the barest minimum in the last one year.”
“The Ministry rejigged collaboration with International Police (Interpol) to reduce international/ transnational crimes, and also launched the “Nigeria Police Veterans ” to remember those who had served the force diligently for many years.”
To encourage members of the police authority, the federal government has established annual award and commendation to officers and men. The Minister stated.
“Under the new policy , the Nigeria Police introduced annual award and commendation ceremony to motivate it’s men to uphold the highest standards of professionalism and service.”
