- Says, “we must embrace technology – surveillance systems, drones, biometric scanners, real-time data analysis”
The Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, on Thursday admitted that criminals terrorising Nigerians in different parts of the country are ahead of security agencies in so many ways.
The criminals who have become a menace to citizens across the nation include bandits, terrorists, gunmen, oil thieves and transnational robbers.
Speaking on at Force Headquarters, Abuja during a meeting with Commanders of all Border Patrol units across the country, Egbetokun said it is high time they too scaled-up their game, noting that criminals are no longer “ragtag” because their weapons are sophisticated, well-funded and internationally connected to the extent of using advanced technology.
According to the IGP: “Let me say this to you: When you mount a checkpoint, when you block a smuggling route, when you rescue a victim, you are not just doing your job. You are shaping the future of Nigeria.
“But let us be clear: The threats we face are changing every day. Criminal groups are no longer ragtag gangs. They are sophisticated, they are well-funded, and they are international. They use drones, falsified documents, and encrypted networks to stay ahead.
“We cannot fight 21st-century crime with 20th-century tools. That is why we must embrace technology – surveillance systems, drones, biometric scanners, real-time data analysis. These are not luxuries. They are necessities.
“And we will continue to fight for them until every officer on the frontline is equipped to match the sophistication of those you face.”
Egbetokun stated that Nigeria is a nation blessed with vast and complex borders including over 4,000 kilometers of land boundaries and long maritime corridors linking the country to the Gulf of Guinea (GoG).
He noted that these borders are more than lines on a map as they are the arteries through which trade, culture, and human connection flow, saying they can also be the cracks through which danger slips in.
The IGP added: “For too long, the porosity of our borders has been exploited. We have seen the inflow of small arms and light weapons that fuel violence in our villages and cities.
“We have seen contraband goods smuggled in, crippling our local industries. We have seen vulnerable women and children deceived and trafficked across borders.
“We have confronted terrorists and criminal syndicates who take advantage of these weaknesses to infiltrate and destabilize our communities.”
