The Minister of Police Affairs, Senator Ibrahim Gaidam, has made case for a holistic and multifaceted approach among the security agencies to addressing the challenge of terrorism.
The Minister handed the charge at the Stakeholders Conference on Security with a theme: “A Path to Regional Cooperation” organised by the Ministry of Police Affairs in conjunction with the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) and National Central Bureau (NCB) in Abuja, recently.
A peess statement by the Deputy Director, Information and Public Relations, Bolaji O. Kazeem, said the minister stated that implementing the International Standard and good practice 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, stating: “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 that the objective of the conference was to deliberate on the way forward to achieving a stable regional security thereby 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.
“…It is pertinent to state that the administration of President Bola Tinubu has worked immensely to curb the insurgency caused by Boko Haram, bandits and other transnational crimes.
“Some of these measures include biometric system at border checkpoint, integration of data analytics into border security operations and deployment of surveillance drones along critical border regions,” he stated.
The minister observed that despite government’s efforts to end the menace of terrorism and violent extremism in the country, the threat posed by terrorism has risen significantly adding that Nigeria was ranked 6th most impacted country globally according to the 2024 Global Terrorism Index.
He enumerated government’s efforts to mitigate insecurity to include deploying the military, cooperating with international partners, implementing counter-terrorism legislation; adoption of 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 establishment of National Criminal Data Fusion Center (NCDFC) for the NPF.
In his goodwill message the Chairman Police Service Commission (PSC), DIG Hashimu Salisu (retd.), represented by Director 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 was necessary for a secure and prosperous West Africa and the entire ECOWAS market area.
Also, the Chairman, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) Brigadier General Mohammed Buba Marwa (retd.) represented by Director Intelligence Kennedy Zirangey in his good will message states that, the conference came at the right time where the nation is faced with insecurity such as terrorism, banditry, insurgency, kidnapping, community conflicts and myriads of other security challenges adding that all the catalyst behind these insecurity threats is drug usage by the foot soldiers perpetrating these crimes.
Earlier, the Inspector General of Police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun, represented by Deputy Inspector General 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.
He added that weak border enforcement mechanisms, and fragmented intelligence sharing systems exacerbate the situation.