CITIZENS COMPASS– The Honourable Minister of Police Affairs, Senator Ibrahim Gaidam, has pointed out that addressing the challenge of terrorism requires a holistic and multifaceted approach among security agencies.
This was contained in a report released to the National Association of Online Security News Publishers (NAOSNP) during the Stakeholders Conference on Security, themed “A Path to Regional Cooperation,” organized by the Ministry of Police Affairs in conjunction with the Nigeria Police Force and National Central Bureau (NCB) at the Rockview Hotels, Abuja.
Gaidam stated that implementing international standards and good practices of sound, modern, integrated, and cooperative border management will go a long way in putting an end to this threat. He urged all stakeholders present at the conference to work collaboratively towards a shared vision of security. “We can overcome these challenges and emerge as a beacon of stability and progress in Africa if all hands are put on deck,” Gaidam stressed.
The Minister opined that the objective of the conference is to deliberate on the way forward to achieving stable regional security, focusing on strategies to strengthen collaboration among Interpol member countries in West Africa, with a view to fostering partnerships to share intelligence, expertise, and approaches for combating trans-border crimes.
In his words, “Ladies and gentlemen, it is pertinent to state that the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR has worked immensely to curb the insurgency caused by Boko Haram, bandits, and other transnational crimes. Some of these measures include biometric systems at border checkpoints, integration of data analytics into border security operations, and deployment of surveillance drones along critical border regions.”
Gaidam observed that despite the government’s efforts to end the menace of terrorism and violent extremism in the country, the threat posed by terrorism has risen significantly. He noted that Nigeria was ranked the 6th most impacted country globally, according to the 2024 Global Terrorism Index.
He enumerated government efforts to mitigate insecurity, including deploying the military, cooperating with international partners, implementing counter-terrorism legislation, adopting a legal framework related to the West African Police Information System (WAPIS), provision of WAPIS terminals to allow security agencies access to critical information, and the establishment of a National Criminal Data Fusion Center (NCDFC) for the Nigerian Police Force.
In his goodwill message, the Chairman of the Police Service Commission, DIG Hashimu Salisu (RTD), represented by Director of Police Discipline, Ferdinand Uchechukwu Ekpe, stated that no nation can afford to stand alone in the face of threats and insurgency. He noted that a secure and peaceful Nigerian state is necessary for a secure and prosperous West Africa and the entire ECOWAS market area.
Also, the Chairman of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Brigadier General Mohammed Buba Marwa (RTD), represented by Director of Intelligence Kennedy Zirangey, in his goodwill message stated that the conference came at the right time as the nation is faced with insecurity such as terrorism, banditry, insurgency, kidnapping, community conflicts, and myriads of other security challenges, adding that drug usage by the foot soldiers perpetrating these crimes remains a major catalyst behind the threats.
Earlier, the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Adeolu, represented by Deputy Inspector General of Logistics and Supplies, DIG A. A. Hamzat, said that the convergence of illicit drugs, small arms, and light weapons in the hands of criminal elements continues to fuel organized crime and extremism, adding that weak border enforcement mechanisms and fragmented intelligence sharing systems exacerbate the situation.
