Waterways Security: Police Deploys Tracking Devices to Trace Criminals

The Marine Police Command of the Nigerian Police Force has said it is deploying tracking devices on Nigerian inland waterways in order to trace movement and activities of criminals.

Mohammed Kura, Assistant inspector General of Police (AIG), Marine Police Command stated this on Thursday in an lnstagram live session with the topic, ”Security and Water Transportation, Post COVID-19 organised by Zoemaritime Resources

He was represented by Cyprian Ovat, a Deputy Superintendent of Police, at the session.

”We are in a digital era and crime is being more sophisticated; the criminals are doing everthing possible to beat the police, but we have introduced new methods to combat crime.

“We have their biodata and various tracking devices to track any criminal whose identity and prints are found at the scene of crime.

”Before any crime is committed today, there will be communication between the person online and on the waters, with this, we can track their conversation and this is how we are able to get their identity,” the AIG said.

Kura said that during the COViD-19 pandemic, the command had not recorded any serious incident of crime on the waterways.

He said that during the Iockdown, boats were stopped from operation and men of the command made sure it was enforced to ensure safety.

Kura said that his men patrol the waterways, including canals, to ensure that hoodlums do not take advantage of such areas to unleash their criminal activities on people and businesses.

On their working relationship with the Navy, he said that they shared information, and on many occasions, carried out operations together.

He said that they recognised the im ortance of working together for the saety of the waterways.

Kura said that being a marine police officer required specialised training due to the fact that they go for rescue operations on water.

’The officer should be able to jump from one boat to the other and not have fear of drowning.

“There is a training institution in Bayelsa State that will soon kick off to help with training of marine police officers.

“Being a marine officer is all about interest because this is not an area someone is called to come and join; one should be ready to combat armed robbery at sea and so women with interest are welcomed.

“Presently, we have vibrant and skilled women officers so there is no excuse of gender issue,” he said.