The Nigeria Police Force has commenced a pilot test of digital surveillance technology to enhance intelligence gathering and policing in Calabar, the capital of Cross River State, south-south Nigeria.
Sikiru Akande, the Police Commissioner of the State Command told some newsmen in Calabar that the electronic devices, which include cameras and drones, would enable the force tackle security challenges within communities.
Akande stated, “the Command adopted new security strategies with the introduction of electronic devices such as drones, cameras, for proactive intelligence-led policing taking cognizance of the geographical location of the state”.
“We have deployed one drone to test the device and based on the result we will get, we may either improve or start operations immediately. At the moment, we have commenced the test run,” the Commissioner stated.
According to him, “the quest for human and technological means of policing has come to the limelight in addressing crimes and criminalities globally, nationally and internally, Cross River State inclusive.”
Puff Adder 2
The Police Commissioner commended the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar Adamu for flagging off “Operation Puff Adder 2”, which he promised would be replicated and sustained in the state.
“This is aimed at extricating criminals from their various hideouts in line with citizens’ rights and rule of law,” hinted Akande.
He further stated that the command was determined to surmount every daunting security challenge across the state and restore Cross River as the preferred tourism destination of Nigeria.
On the achievements of the command in the past one month, the Commissioner said “thirteen (13) suspects were arrested in the period under review. Fifty-seven (57) rounds of 7.6MM live ammunition Twenty-five (25) feet armoured cables, eight parcels of weeds suspected to be Indian hemp, one locally made double barrel pistol, three locally made pistols with live cartridges, charms, amulets, two bottles of concoction and one pack substance suspected to be cocaine.”
He commended the governor of Cross River State, Professor Ben Ayade and the communities for their support, saying, “I want to sincerely appreciate Cross River State Governor and the people as well as others, who have deemed it necessary to partner with us through information gathering and sharing. We still expect more from the people in order to subdue security challenges headlong.”
