Minister of Police Affairs, Senator Ibrahim Gaidam, has called for a holistic and multifaceted approach among security agencies to address the challenges of terrorism.
Gaidam stated that implementing the international standard and good practice of sound, modern, integrated, and cooperative border management will go a long way towards eliminating this threat.
He stated this in Abuja during the stakeholders conference on security with a theme “A Path to Regional Cooperation” organised by the Ministry of Police Affairs in conjunction with the Nigeria Police Force and National Central Bureau (NCB).
The minister urged all stakeholders at the conference to work collaboratively towards a shared vision of security, noting that “if all hands are put on deck, we can overcome these challenges and emerge as a beacon of stability and progress in Africa.”
Speaking further, the minister said that the objective of this conference is to deliberate on the way forward to achieving stable regional security, thereby focusing on strategies to strengthen collaboration among Interpol member countries in West Africa to foster partnerships to share intelligence, expertise, and approaches for combating trans-border crimes.
In his goodwill message, the chairman of the Police Service Commission, DIG Hashimu Salisu (rtd), represented by the director of Police Discipline, Ferdinand Uchechukwu Ekpe, said that no nation can afford to stand alone in the face of threats and insurgency. He noted that a secure and peaceful Nigerian state is necessary to secure and prosperous West Africa and the entire ECOWAS market area.
Also, the chairman National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Brigadier General Mohammed Buba Marwa (rtd), represented by the Director, Intelligence Kennedy Zirangey in his goodwill message, stated that the conference came at the right time when the nation is faced with insecurity such as terrorism, banditry, insurgency, kidnapping, community conflicts and myriads of other security challenges, adding that all the catalyst behind these insecurity threats is drug usage by the foot soldiers perpetrating these crimes.
Earlier, the inspector-general of police, Kayode Egbetokun, represented by deputy inspector-general, Logistics and Supplies DIG A. A. Hamzat, said that the convergence of illicit drugs, small arms, and light weapons in the hands of criminal elements continues to fuel organised crime and extremism.
He added that weak border enforcement mechanisms and fragmented intelligence-sharing systems have all exacerbated crime in the country.
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