DEFENCE
IGP, Experts Advocate Shift from Manpower to Technology in Fight against Insecurity
Inspector General of Police, Olatunji Disu, academics and other security professionals have advocated transition from heavy reliance on physical personnel to technology innovation in tackling insecurity in the country.
They stated the position in Abuja on Monday, at an event to celebrate Peter Olumuji, who bagged a Doctors of Philosophy (PhD) in Security and Strategic Studies, from Nasarawa State University, Keffi.
Olumuji is the Secretary of the FCT Administration Command and Control Centre.
The centre was established to improve security in the FCT by collating and analysing security intelligence feeds from drones, Closed-Circuit Television cameras and other technological devices.
The IGP, who chaired the event, said academic certification was crucial for modern security personnel and urged officers to get certified for the specialised roles they perform.
He commended Olumuji, fondly called “Mr Sharp Sharp”, for always getting any job assigned to him done with speed.
“He is a paragon of honesty and professional persistence. Whenever there is a task, he stays on your neck to ensure it is completed.
“I learned this from him: start a job, put a plan to it, and follow it to the end,” he said.
The Vice-Chancellor of Bingham University, Prof. Haruna Ayuba, who supervised Olumuji’s thesis, said that the security and strategic studies programme was vital to winning the war against insecurity.
Ayuba said, “Training experts at this level is now essential to nip security challenges in the bud”.
He praised the celebrant’s dedication to genuine learning saying; “while some students wanted to get a degree by any means, Olumuji was ready to learn.
“We didn’t just work together; we published research papers together,” Ayuba noted.
Similarly, Dr Stephen Okore of the Nigerian Army University, Biu, stressed the need for professionalism in security agencies to ensure competency in tackling insecurity.
Okore described Olumuji as a “gentleman and a good leader” who served as their class governor throughout their master’s and PhD programmes.
On his part, Adamu Gwary, Director of the FCTA Security Services Department, said that Olumuji’s academic achievement was the outcome of FCT Minister Nyesom Wike’s transformation of the FCT security architecture.
Gwary noted that the department was being increasingly populated by holders of PhD, which he said would inject logical thinking in tackling security challenges in the FCT.
“This means that security matters will be handled with innovative responsiveness.
“With the current security situation, this intellectual capacity will ensure that the security department provides the needed expertise in tackling insecurity,” he said.
Responding, Olumuji said that his doctoral research underscored the need for a critical shift in Nigeria’s security strategy.
He emphasised the need for the transition from heavy reliance on physical personnel to the integration of advanced technology.
“By introducing more technology, we reduce the reliance on manpower.
“This is more effective in saving the lives of our gallant men and women in the military and law enforcement, who face risks in the field,” he said.
The Police Command in Akwa Ibom said it has arrested two suspected vandals along the Calabar – Itu highway.
The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Timfom John, disclosed this in a statement in Uyo on Monday.
John said the suspected vandals were involved in looting and theft of items from an accidented truck along the Calabar–Itu highway.
She said that on Sunday at about 22; 00hrs, operatives of the command received credible intelligence through a tricycle operator regarding the activities of the criminal elements, who were vandalising a truck.
The PPRO said the police operatives mobilised to the scene and successfully arrested one suspect in possession of four suspected stolen truck tyres.
John said further investigation led to the arrest of the tricycle operator, who was allegedly used to convey the stolen items from the scene.
‘’The suspects are currently in Police custody, while efforts are ongoing to apprehend other fleeing accomplices connected to the criminal act,” she said.
She quoted the state Commissioner of Police, Baba Azare, as warning criminal elements to desist from exploiting accident scenes for acts of vandalism, looting, and theft.
Azare also said that the command would continue to strengthen surveillance and deploy intelligence-driven policing strategies to safeguard lives and property across the state.
”The command appreciates members of the public, who continue to provide timely and credible information to the police.
”We also encourage residents to remain law-abiding and security conscious at all times,” he said.
The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), has advised motorists to adopt stricter safety checks and defensive driving practices as the rainy season sets in across parts of the country.
The corps Public Education Officer (CPEO), Osondu Ohaeri, gave the advice in an interview on Monday in Abuja.
Ohaeri described the rainy season as a period that required heightened caution from all road users, and urged vehicle owners to prioritised routine pre-trip inspections to ensure their vehicles were roadworthy
”Before you leave your house in the morning, carry out what we call a regular morning vehicle check.
Ensure the tyres are in good condition and roadworthy,” he said.The CPEO emphasised that tyres remained a critical safety component, noting that any defect could compromise vehicle stability and endanger passengers.
He urged motorists to also pay attention to other key components such as brakes, headlamps, rear lights and windscreen wipers, especially during night travel and rainfall.
”Beyond tyres, ensure the brakes, headlamps, rear lights and wipers are functional, particularly for night driving in the rain.
“Poor visibility and wet road surfaces significantly increase the risk of crashes during the rainy season, making safety checks and driver alertness essential,” he said.
Ohaeri further advised motorists to maintain strict discipline on the road and apply defensive driving techniques, particularly at bends, junctions and busy corridors.
According to him, safety is a shared responsibility. Drivers must be conscious of other road users and apply defensive driving at all times.
He also urged drivers to maintain full concentration while driving under wet weather conditions, stressing that distractions and negligence often led to avoidable crashes.
”This period, safety consciousness and absolute concentration are very important before you even leave your home.
”Proper vehicle maintenance and responsible driving behaviour remain key to ensuring safe journeys throughout the rainy season and beyond,” he emphasised.
The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Lagos State, on Monday, paraded four foreign nationals, arrested in connection with alleged human trafficking and internet fraud.
The four suspects comprise three Togolese and a Beninoise.
Briefing journalists on Monday at the NSCDC, Badagry Division Headquarters, Ibereko, the Commandant, Adedotun Kenshinro, said that investigations revealed that the suspects had allegedly defrauded 17 victims already.
Kenshinro, represented by the command’s spokesperson, SC Oluwaseun Abolurin, said “last Thursday, based on credible intelligence, operatives of Badagry Division arrested illegal immigrants who specialise in luring unsuspecting victims into the country and into fraudulent activities.
“Each victim is lured through the social media space and asked to pay 650,000 CFA about N 1,650,000 for registering into their nefarious camps where they train them on what is expected of them.
“If the victims refuse to cooperate with them, they will seize their phones and restrict their movements until they have a change of mind,” he said.
The commandant said that the suspects attempted to bribe operatives of the Badagry division with 130,000 CFAs, to sweep the matter under the carpet and compromise their investigation.
“This is another milestone achievement of the NSCDC state command, coming especially from Badagry Division, and will continue to effectively perform our duties.
“However, we want to say unequivocally, that all forms of inducement under any guise to compromise our collective and sworn oath to the Federal Republic of Nigeria will be suppressed.
“We will not relent on our oath to continue to name and to shame those who do not want the progress of others in our collective society,” he said.
Keshinro commended the Badagry Division Commandant, CSC Gbenga Ekunola, for the suspects’ arrest.
“We will not relent on our oath to continue to name and to shame those who do not want the progress of others in our collective society,” he said.
The commandant said that the suspects have been handed over to the Nigerian Immigration Service for further processing and action.
He advised citizens to be wary of Get-Rich-Quick schemes, stressing that desperate people to get rich, without putting in the work, fall prey to such fraudsters.
One of the victims, Atokari Iderim, 28, from Central Africa Republic, appealed to the Nigerian government to send them back home since they were not perpetrators of the crime but victims of the process.
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