- Want FG to allow telecommunication companies use devices to monitor, track criminals
Like never before, Nigeria is currently groaning under the yolk of insecurity.
Terrorism, banditry and kidnapping are gradually turning into enterprises. No thanks to the multi-million naira that kidnapped victims’ families are made to cough out while those who are not lucky to meet up with ransom demands are slaughtered like animals in their abductors’ den.
Hardly does a day pass without reports of attacks, abduction and killings across the country. As governments and security agencies appear overwhelmed, citizens are sunk deeper in fear.
In a very unfortunate manner, Nigerians were ushered into the New Year 2024 with painful reports of killings.
As people around the world were celebrating and rejoicing the birth of Christ on Christmas day last year, residents of Bokkos, Mangu, Barkin-Ladi Local Government Areas, and other communities in Plateau State were thrown into mourning after gunmen attacked the communities and killed nothing less than 115 innocent citizens.
Since then, the figures of deaths in the country have continued to skyrocket as terrorists, bandits, and criminals of other hues take their inglorious activities in other parts of the country, wreaking mayhem in some states and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
In this new year alone, more than a dozen people have been reportedly killed while close to 100 persons were kidnapped in separate deadly operations of terror men across the six geo-political zones of the country.
In Abuja, the seat of power, kidnappers, who abducted 10 persons from an estate, Sagwari Layout, Dutse, on January 7, reportedly killed three of their victims to send a strong warning to their relatives negotiating ransom payment.
In Zamfara State, no fewer than 36 women in Magizawa community of Kaura Namoda Local Government Area were abducted by bandits penultimate Sunday.
Local vigilantes alleged that they and some security personnel were overwhelmed by the bandits who invaded the community, killed three, including a vigilante leader and wounded two others.
In like manner, armed bandits stormed a joint military camp in Nahuta village, Batsari Local Government Area of Katsina State recently, leaving a trail of destruction and looted goods.
In neighbouring Kaduna State, the Police Command confirmed the abduction of Halimatu Saadiya Bello and her 17-year-old son, Yusuf Bello, at Dogarawa area, Sabon Gari LGA.
Also, gunmen penultimate Sunday kidnapped Dr. Musa Sale Argungu, a deputy dean and lecturer in the Faculty of Physical Sciences, Kebbi State University of Science and Technology Aliero, Kebbi State.
There was palpable fear at Adani, Uzo-Uwani LGA of Enugu State following reported abduction of a former councillor of Ojor, Romanus Chikwelu recently.
Three others abducted with Chikwelu were the former transition committee vice- chairman of the LGA, Vitalis Okonkwo, his son, and a man, Nnalue Igwebuike.
As usual, the incidents have been followed by public outcries, condolence messages, and promises by the authorities to arrest the situation and prevent a recurrence.
But it always happens, over and over again, so much so that the killings in the country have become a ‘norm’ on national and international headlines.
Traumatized and hapless, many residents of affected areas across Nigeria have started fleeing their communities to seek safety and shelter elsewhere due to constant attacks, abduction and killings.
Some families of victims have stormed the social media space to seek financial support to enable them meet up their huge ransom. Others have written to President Bola Tinubu and respective governors of their states for financial assistance to rescue their loved ones presently being killed and tortured in dens of their abductors.
This carnage has been happening in a country that is rated as one of the top African countries with strongest military might.
According to the latest ranking by Global Firepower, Nigeria’s military remains a vital force in Africa. Global Firepower ranked Nigeria 4th strongest country with military might in Africa. The organization added that the country’s position was boosted by its strengths in manpower and airpower, giving the country a PowerIndex score of 0.5587.
The ranking considers factors including the amount of military equipment and troops each country has, as well as their financial standing, geography, and available resources, information which may be imperfect.
Explaining why it has become difficult for the military and police to tame insecurity in the country, security experts identified lack of political will, corruption among security architecture and declining morale by military and other security agencies.
A security consultant, Colonel Hassan Stan Labo (retired) said, “What we have on ground is not working. One of our problems is over centralization of our security architecture.
“If we decentralize, to the point that we have state police and community policing gaining ground, so much pressure will be taken out and there will be a seamless operation.
“I want to urge the present number one citizen to look into this. We have to start taking some very drastic actions like serious nations are doing. I don’t even know whether we have national interest. We must sit down and do a serious review and decentralize our security arrangements.
“There is nothing they can do if the CP in these states will have to depend on their IG who will depend on the President. The political will is lacking. There is a semblance to the way the present administration is handling security with that of the last administration,” the former military officer said.
A public affairs analyst, Ayo Ologun, said there is no political will by the government to end insecurity, adding that the corruption within the Nigerian military is partly responsible for the insecurity plaguing the country.
A security sector reform expert, Chukwuma Ume, said the security agencies have access to NINs, as well as the technology to track criminals.
He, however, said the criminals outsmarted the security agencies by using victims’ SIM cards to make calls demanding ransom.
He also cited sharp practices by officials of regulatory agencies who, according to him, cut corners in discharging their duties.
“The thing is that the security agencies have access to NIN, and I want to believe they have technology to use for tracking. But what I know is that once these criminals take an oath, they retreat into the bush, and once they retreat into the bush, it is familiar terrain to them.
“What can happen at that point would be to wait until they come out. But they are also smart. They don’t use their own SIM cards, they use victims’ SIM cards.
So, immediately after the operations and after the victim is either released or killed, the security agencies cannot be tracking a SIM card that belongs to the victim. They (kidnappers) are very smart.”
Another security expert, Abdullahi Garba, called on the regulatory agencies to be serious and make things work for the citizenry.
He said, “In some other countries you cannot operate a telephone or anything in that direction without proper documentation from day one. But here is a place where people cut corners. People are not doing what they are supposed to do.
“There is a limitation for the security agencies of pursuing criminals through the bush unless we are ready to incur collateral damage. It is a multifaceted thing. We blame our telecommunication companies and the law enforcement agencies.”
An information technology expert, Martin Nwoga, said the Federal Government should allow telecommunication companies to use the Lawful Interception Management System (LIMS) so that they could monitor and track criminals and supply the same to private security companies to act upon if police and other law enforcement agencies fail to do so.
LIMS is a modern monitoring solution for fixed and data networks. It is helpful for telecommunication and internet service providers to fulfill their legal obligation to intercept phone calls plus data, and to ensure privacy as much as possible.
Targeted monitoring of public communication services, such as telephone calls, mobile data and internet-based services such as e-mail, voice-over-IP, instant messaging, and so on becomes possible with LIMS.
The system acts as a link between the provider’s network and the law enforcement monitoring centres. The strict security measures prevent unauthorised access, secure all private user information, and relieve security checks through comprehensive logging.
Nwoga said, “If a semi-state agency could be set up to legally monitor devices and communications of suspected criminals, this would go a long way in solving crime.”
The Chief Technical Officer of Madjatek Pro Technology Company, AbdulMuizz Oyewole, an engineer, said the ongoing security challenges in Nigeria despite the SIM-NIN synchronisation, raised crucial questions about leveraging technology for public safety.
He stressed the need for streamlined protocols for security agencies to access and analyse NIN-SIM data promptly.
He also said data privacy concerns must be addressed through secure frameworks and oversight mechanisms.
“Law enforcement agencies need training and resources to effectively analyse and interpret the vast amount of data generated by NIN-SIM synchronisation.
Advanced forensic tools, data visualisation techniques and deployment of artificial intelligence can play a crucial role here,” Oyewole said.
Oyewole, who is a Microsoft certified expert, noted that inter-agency collaboration is highly necessary as lack of operational synergy limits effectiveness.
He described having a central intelligence unit integrating data from various agencies and fostering real-time information sharing as essential.
He said that beyond NIN-SIM synchronisation, the government could utilise information technology in several other ways like deploying large numbers of Advanced Surveillance Systems (CCTV) networks and drone surveillance with facial recognition and automated anomaly detection in high-risk areas and integrate these systems with real-time communication tools for rapid response.
“Another strategy is for us to develop multi-channel platforms, such as web app, mobile app, toll-free lines, SMS and USSD for citizen reporting, where citizens can anonymously report suspicious activity or emergencies across the country,” he said.
Oyewole said this would help create a network of eyes and ears for law enforcement agencies.
He also suggested that cyber safety awareness be inculcated in civic education curriculum in basic and secondary schools and general studies in tertiary institutions, with practical session demonstration.
