Minister of Police Affairs Mohammed Maigari Dangyadi and the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mohammed Adamu have called for a more collaborative effort to tackle trans-border crime threatening national and global order.
The Minister made this call while declaring open the International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL) Week, 2019 which was organised by the Nigeria INTERPOL National Central Bureau, which commenced in Abuja on Monday.
The Minister noted that the intention of the week-long exercise is to boost the capacity of law enforcement agents and enhancing the professional bond between them towards collectively addressing internal and trans-national security threats.
“Crime is a dynamic and increasingly complex phenomenon which transcends national boundaries. It is, therefore, imperative that countries should build and continually strengthen partnerships towards presenting a united front to defeat common enemies that are bent on destabilising the national and global security order. INTERPOL, with its rich membership, tools, unique capabilities and strong trans-national network undoubtedly represents framework for achieving this objective,” he told a conference.
He lauded the IGP for initiating the programme adding that the public would take advantage of a wide range of INTERPOL’s tools and resources with a view to familiarizing relevant security agencies on how to access and utilise them towards strengthening national security.
IGP Mohammed Adamu, was at various times a ‘Specialised Officer’, Assistant Director, Executive Member and the first ever African to be made a Director in the over 82 years history of INTERPOL.
The Minister also assured the commitment of the Federal Government and the Ministry of Police Affairs to support the IGP’s current initiatives directed at repositioning the Police and enhancing the capacity of the Nigeria INTERPOL National Central Bureau.
“The Ministry under my direction will work with the Inspector General of Police to ensure that the necessary tools and equipment that are required by Police are secured to take policing in Nigeria to the next level,” he said.
The IGP in his remarks said the exercise will enhance the professional knowledge of law enforcement officers as strings of lectures that are designed to give them insight into the capabilities and the opportunities that INTERPOL could offer in aid of the attainment of security management mandates will be delivered.
“Coming at this time when the nation, sub-region, and the international community are faced with complex, transnational, and technology-driven security threats, the Nigeria INTERPOL Week presents a unique opportunity for all strategic security actors and stakeholders within and beyond the country to interact, discuss, build veritable professional network and evolve workable strategies within the context of the INTERPOL’s mandate towards tackling the security threats in a coordinated and sustainable manner,” he said.
In Nigeria, INTERPOL has been supporting the law enforcement community in diverse ways particularly, in relation to criminal information processing and sharing, and global monitoring and apprehension of criminal elements.
“These projects are supporting our efforts towards combating cybercrimes, drugs and human trafficking, proliferation of small arms and light weapons, armed robbery, car-jacking, fraud, environmental crimes, kidnapping for ransom, violent extremism, and terrorism,’ the IGP said.
He however, lamented that much as the INTERPOL framework has been helpful in strengthening partnerships among national law enforcement agencies towards addressing the global security question, the issue of border security and management remains a constant threat.
‘In this regard, the signing of the African Free Trade Agreement within the ECOWAS framework could present new sets of security threats in the West African Sub-Region for which we need to step up our collaborative efforts, devise new strategies and build enduring partnerships to contain.
INTERPOL General Secretariat officials in Lyon, France, heads and representatives of security agencies, and other guests and partners graced the occasion, which will end on Thursday August 29.
Innocent Odoh, Abuja
