Insecurity: Kudos To Wike For Use Of Technology

Concerned about the growing rate of crime in Rivers State, an Intelligence and Surveillance Centre built
by the state government was handed over to the Nigeria Police. It was done with the sole aim of boosting the efforts of the security agencies in crime-fighting in the state. The inauguration was performed by the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Usman Alkali Baba.
Speaking at the ceremony, the state governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, said the centre was fitted with the latest technology and added that it would help in improving the crime-fighting capability of police officers and make the state safer. He noted the need to create a more conducive climate for people to go about their various endeavours and encourage the business community to operate their investments with a greater sense of security.
“Let me say clearly, this is our contribution to making sure we have peace, fight insecurity, and that those who do business and reside here sleep with their two eyes closed. Let me commend our special guest of honour for the support you’ve given to this command to fight crime. I want to say it on good authority that since you came, we have had peace, we have had good relations with the police command, unlike what used to happen before when, in one year, we had over eight commissioners of police. I thank you for not bringing politics into security issues. That is why, today, Rivers people can count this as one of the safest states.”
The IGP thanked Wike for providing the centre that would enhance the police’s capability to perform according to international best practices. “Your Excellency, this project is a main boost to my agenda of policing Nigeria in this contemporary time, which is in tandem with providing international best practices of using technology and ICT to police with ease.”
Baba noted that the services to access at the Intelligence and Surveillance Centre would be combined with the police Cyber Crime Unit to render improved policing to Nigerians. “You can sit and police Rivers by getting a live-time incident report, and you can also have the opportunity to send a team that is on standby at the station. I think this is the international practice we will encourage, and also appeal to other state governments and other stakeholders to repeat such projects that will make human factors not an issue, the IGP said.”
Recall that the Rivers government had earlier installed about 150 CCTV cameras in strategic places across Port Harcourt, and connected to the centre to keep the city under the surveillance radar on a 24-hour basis. The governor has also graciously approved the installation of cameras in all the major cities in the state. With the help of the Intelligence and Surveillance Centre, the entire state will come under surveillance radar that will be active every minute of the day.
Governor Wike also pledged to donate 10 armoured vehicles to strengthen the performance of officers. He further promised to build another Intelligence and Surveillance Centre in the next six months from November. The donation is in addition to many others earlier made by the state government, including over 250 patrol vehicles, 40 gunboats, bulletproof vests, helmets, and other critical requirements of security agencies, the military and paramilitary formations in the state to advance their efficiency and effectiveness.
We commend the Rivers State governor for his logistics support that has energised security outfits to achieve notable success in the state. We urge him to continue to work harder towards keeping Rivers safe, in line with his constitutional responsibility of protecting everyone living in the state. The state’s security agencies are applauded for cooperating with the state government to check the activities of criminals.
At this time of the year when residents of the state are preparing to celebrate Christmas and New Year while gearing up for electioneering campaigns culminating in the 2023 elections, we think that the police and other security agencies urgently need to deploy every resource available to them to curb crimes and criminality to make the state safer for people and investments. We believe that the uptick in violent crimes, particularly cult-related incidents, must be nipped in the bud to ensure that the state remains the safest among the comity of states in Nigeria.
We challenge the Commissioner of Police and commanding officers of other sister security agencies to work in synergy with the state government to guarantee the peace and safety of residents at this critical moment in our lives. We caution politicians not to take undue advantage of the convivial mood of the people by instigating crises and stoking unnecessary tension as a means of achieving their goals in the state.
With the constant support of the Rivers governor, the police should be challenged to deploy technology in all areas of its operations to ensure a holistic check on new waves of banditry and kidnapping in the country. Crime and criminality are dynamic, not static. Therefore, the force must work with modernity by training and retraining its officers and men to cope with the contemporary demands.
Over the years, insecurity and crime have been significant issues in Nigeria. While the country successfully dealt with the past security challenges conventionally, it failed to contain the new security and crime obstacles, especially that of the well-known insurgency and banditry. This is due to various reasons, mainly the use of the same outdated, futile strategy. To tackle insecurity more effectively, a more technological approach is imperative.
Other state governors should emulate Governor Wike’s model of using technology in the crime fight. This model is meant to support the effort of the Federal Government and security personnel in combating all forms of crimes. Through the use of modern technology, the menace of banditry, cattle rustling, kidnapping, and other vices bedevilling the country will be put behind within the shortest possible time. The insecurity facing the country in recent times is a national challenge that demands a collective effort.
Governors should collaborate with the Federal Government in making Nigerians feel safe and secure. The Rivers State Government is fighting crime in and around the state by providing necessary assistance to security agencies, and the state is now safer than it was in the years before Wike’s government took office.