Insecurity: Tinubu calls for collaboration among security agencies

President Bola Tinubu on Wednesday said that the security situation in the country is a complex blend of threats posed by well-organized non-state actors and said that concerted efforts from the nation’s security agencies was required to combat the ugly trend

President Tinubu who was represented by the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani stated this while speaking during the inauguration of the the Nigeria Police Force National Cyber Crime Center in Abuja

The President also called for an end to the inter-agency rivalry among the Nation’s law enforcement agencies in order to end menace of insecurity in the country.

According to him, “The security situation in the country is a complex blend of threats posed by well-organized non-state actors.

“Addressing it requires a concerted approach by all stakeholders within the security architecture. I therefore call for the elimination of inter-agency rivalries and urge law enforcement agencies to embrace a coordinated, collaborative approach.

“In line with our policy objective of reforming the Nigerian Police Force, we are committed to investing further in the Nigeria Police Force through procurement of sufficient arms, weapons, and other critical equipment, as well as recruitment and continuous training to boost the number, quality, and preparedness of our police personnel.”

Tinubu who reassured that his administration was determined to combat all of form of insecurity noted that the country was witnessing a rise in threats posed by cybercriminals.

According to him, “This administration remains resolute in the fight against all forms of criminality. As an emerging and rapidly evolving category of offense, cybercrimes are a new frontier in that battle. We are witnessing a rise in threats posed by cybercriminals, online financial fraudsters, and cyber terrorists who use the Internet to coordinate and carry out their destabilizing and nefarious activities.

“It is impossible to overstate the size of this challenge. The rapid emergence of technologies, the COVID-19 pandemic, and the advent of 5G technology have all contributed to widening the scope and diversity of cyber-based threats. Since 2020, Nigeria has witnessed an unprecedented surge in the use of social media to spread subversive messages and incite violence and arrest.

“The Federal Government has taken several policy decisions, including the review of the National Cybercrime Strategy to mitigate the multifaceted threats posed by cybercrimes.

“Our objective is to usher Nigeria into a bright future driven by a prosperous cyberspace and digital economy. Prioritizing the security of our cyberspace, this administration is committed to enhancing the social security of Nigerians and tackling the economic and security challenges facing our country while also providing us with a platform to improve our credibility as a safe destination for foreign investment in the digital world.”

He then solicited for mutual collaboration between the centre and the Office of the National Security Adviser to ensure a greater level of scrutiny of online activities in the country

He said, “I hope that this centre will complement the ONSA in the protection of our critical national infrastructures by enabling a greater level of scrutiny of the online activities of those who seek to cause damage to our national interests. The security situation in the country is a complex blend of threats posed by well-organized non-state actors.”

Speaking, the Inspector General of Police IGP, Kayode Egbetokun stated that the centre had achieved a lot of results within the short period of It was established.

“It will interest Your Excellency to know that the centre has proactively engaged in high-profile interventions bordering on cybercrime-related infiltrations and attacks.

“Some of these attacks were carried out on government and non-governmental agencies. Many of the suspects in these cases were arrested and prosecuted, while trial is still ongoing in some of the fresh cases recorded,” he said.

The Police boss disclosed that 70 per cent of stolen funds and assets had been recovered by the centre.

According to him, “Seventy per cent of the stolen funds and assets have been recovered so far. As we embark on this new chapter in the history of the Nigerian Police Force, I want to emphasize that cyber security is a shared responsibility that requires the cooperation and collaboration of all stakeholders. Together, we can build a resilient and secure cyberspace that enables our nation to thrive, innovate, and prosper in the digital age.”

On his own, the Minister of Police Affairs, Senator Ibrahim Gaidam represented goodwillby the Director of Police Services hisDepartment, Mr. Ibrahim Muhammad pointed out that, the highest form of criminality today takes place in cyberspace and has continued to spread like wildfire especially among our younger ones, causing a lot of harm and havoc to the society.

He commended the efforts of the Nigeria Police Force for their swift and proactive measures in curtailing this cyber menace in our society by building this Cyber Crime Center.

Gaidam revealed that there was an ongoing project entitled, “National Criminal Data Fusion Center” at the NPF Headquarters that was aimed at digitalizing crime data record and share crime information among the various security agencies in the country.

According to him, “The project will be ready for commissioning as soon as the expected fund is released for its completion,”

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