For close to 2 decades now, the Nigerian security agents have done all their best in trying to pull the plug in the war against insecurity bedevilling the nation. Presently, the war against insecurity plaguing the nation doesn’t seem to have one foot in the grave and this isn’t because the gallant security forces aren’t putting all their efforts in culminating these outrageous acts being perpetuated by armed groups in the country, but simply because they do not want to adapt to the technological advancements in the world today.
If Nigeria must be free from the shackles of insurgency that has led to ceaseless violence and bloodshed, then it must prioritise the use of information technology to tackle its security challenges.
Countries in Europe, Asia, North America and the Middle East are making use of information technology to checkmate and preempt national security threats. They do not solely rely on the use of arms and ammunitions to get rid of these threats.
In 2013, the U.S .Government through its Federal Bureau of Investigation deployed its security systems to track down the Boston Marathon Bombers and eventually got hold of the perpetrators.
The increase in the level of criminal activities in the country calls for the adoption of more intelligent methods by the Nigerian Government in order to tackle the insecurity situation.
Over-reliance on the utilisation of arms and ammunitions without the provision of other gadgets that would assist the Nigerian security forces to combat insecurity will only prove their efforts to be inefficacious. Labelling of insurgents in the country as “terrorists” does not also serve as a solution to its insecurity situation.
Some of these gadgets include drones, close-circuit television(CCTV), surveillance cameras, and satellite imagery. Adoption and proper application of these gadgets will not only provide the security agents with reliable data on the activities, movements and hideouts of these insurgents and terrorists, but will also aid them in preempting and deescalating unforeseen national threats, identifying weakpoints and apprehending intruders.
Calls have been made by concerned groups and individuals on the need for the Nigerian Government to employ the use of information technology among its security agents so as to bring an end to its tumultuous situation, but such calls which did not begin today, have not been heeded to or considered by the Nigerian Government.
In May 2014, the Computer Warehouse Group, a Pan-African ICT company, and Huawei, jointly advised the Nigerian Government to deploy Internet Protocol (IP) surveillance as a technological solution to insecurity challenges facing the country.
This proferred solution died out as it was neither approved of or used by the previous and the present administration to combat insecurity in the country.
A plethora of high-ranking officers in the Nigerian Military Force and other security agencies, and some prominent personalities believe that Information Technology can be of great impact to the country’s security.
Security Expert, Col. Hassan Stan-Labo in an interview with Punch Newspaper, on 10th September, 2021, said the issue of insecurity ravaging the country could be addressed through the application of technology, with drones that have surveillance and engaging capabilities that can be operated from safe distances.
Yusuf Mugu, a Lawmaker in the Kaduna State House of Assembly, in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria on 27th September, 2021, called on the Kaduna State Government to deploy drones in the state to help tackle its insecurity situation.
At the Maiden Annual Conference of the Nigerian Information Technology Reporters’ Association, that was held in Abuja on December 15, 2021, the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr. Isa Ali Pantami stated the need for the formulation of security policies with a technology mindset to tackle the insecurity challenges in the country.
This shows that Information Technology has a great role to play in our national security as it presents opportunities that can help in securing the nation.
In the aspect of border security, Nigeria has suffered alot as there has been an unceasing and poorly controlled influx of illegal, contraband items (fake products e.g food, cosmetics) into the country, and arms and ammunitions which have been used to cause havoc majorly in the Northern part of the country.
Use of drones on the Nigerian borders by the country’s immigration officers in collaboration with the Nigerian Army can aid in tracing the source of these unlicensed and dangerous weapons, where they are targeted at for distribution, and ultimately help them in getting hold of these smugglers.
Taking a look at the issue of kidnapping in the country, hideouts of these kidnappers are hardly ever traced and this is why the issue of kidnapping never ceases to occur. If drones were used, locations of the kidnapped victims would have been traced and the victims quickly rescued.
3 months ago, the Nigerian Defense Academy was invaded by bandits, with 2 soldiers killed, some injured, and a Major kidnapped. Despite the rigorous routine check zones, and guards mounted on a watchtower, the bandits were still able to carry out their task successfully. If there were drones active 24/7 to provide situational awareness to the stationed officers at the Academy, such might have never occurred with the Nigerian Military being able to quickly avert such situation. Drones being able to provide situational awareness will help the Nigerian Military Force in minimising risk to personnel and in quickly putting the intruders in a dangerous situation.
On several occasions, we have been informed by reputable print and broadcast media organisations on military camps, barracks and police stations that were attacked and destroyed. Use of drones by the security agencies can aid them in identifying and deescalating problems early on their timeline by investigating disturbances through surveillance.
The Nigerian Government needs to invest in Science and Technology if it is to achieve its hopes of bringing an end to the insecurity bedevilling the nation.
There is a need for the Security agencies and the National Information Technology and Development Agency (NITDA) to collaborate in order to tackle the insecurity situation in the country. NITDA can provide the security agencies with the technological know-how for proper use of the gadgets.
If Nigeria is to return back to the days when insurgency and such ceaseless violence and bloodshed was alien to it, then the Government must be ready to fully adopt and use these technological innovations that would help in actualising its goals of overcoming insecurity in the country.
