Interpol: NIS to track terror suspects through technology

The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) will, henceforth, track terror suspects and other criminal elements, who are on the global and local lists of wanted persons.
The tracking of wanted persons will be facilitated online, through the Interpol-extended database of wanted persons.
Comptroller-General of Immigration Muhammad Babandede, who made the disclosure in an exclusive interview with New Telegraph, said the database will be extended to the nation’s land, air and sea borders, for detection and possible arrest of wanted persons.
“That list of wanted persons, which before we use to receive from the police, in a written form, will now be real time in our database, in our headquarters”, Babandede said.
The CGI, who spoke on the heels of the visit of the Interpol Secretary-General, appealed for training of officials on data analysis.
He said the NIS is a police organisation, considering its broad mandate, which includes issuance of travel documents, and control of entry of persons.
Hear the CGI: “Well, as you are aware, Interpol is like a general Police organisation. Nigeria Immigration Service, even though we are not called police in Nigeria, we are actually police; all the jobs we do in terms of issuance of travel documents, control of entry of persons, is Interpol-related.
“The Inspector General of Police and myself, have agreed to work together. This year, he has extended the Interpol database for wanted persons…to Nigeria Immigration Service.
“That is why the Secretary-General was impressed, and came to see how we are working. The visit is important because our job is globally-related. We issue travel documents, not for Nigerians,but for the world…
“The people, who are wanted globally, they (Interpol) can come to Nigeria. That is why the Interpol is interested in us. The visit was very fruitful;we are ready to work together, to enhance security globally.”
Meanwhile, the Immigration boss has said that the Service was in talks with the Interpol, on border security, even as he applauded the international police organisation for extending an instrument to the service.
“We are talking. The greatest support that has come to us, is the extension of the Interpol i/27(?) information 24/7 (24 hours in a day, 7 days in a week), that is the meaning.
“That list of wanted persons, which before we use to receive from the police, in a written form, will now be real time in our database, in our headquarters. And, we will extend it to all our land borders, sea and air, which means anybody wanted globally, we can see realtime online.”

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