Kidnapping: Police Deploy Tracking Devices to Lagos, Rivers

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By; RAYMOND TEDUNJAYE, Lagos.
 
The Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris has disclosed that plans have been concluded to establish two tracking units in Lagos and Rivers States, as part of efforts to contain the spate of kidnapping across the country.
 
 Idris  who made the disclosure on Friday evening,  during an interactive session with reporters and activists in Lagos,
informed that the tracking  machines have been deployed to both states and would start functioning in few weeks time, so as to reduce pressure on those in Abuja and enhance the police anti-kidnapping drive.

According to him, the tracking machine has made it possible for the police to resolve about 90 percent of kidnap cases, with victims rescued and suspects arrested.

While the machine in Port Harcourt, Rivers State would cater for the southern and eastern regions, that deployed to Lagos would focus on the west.

The police chief also disclosed that plans were underway to reinvigorate the force’ forensic laboratories, but noted that fund
constrains were hindering its implementation. 
Idris urged Nigerians to assist the police in tackling armed crimes, reiterating that the fight against kidnappers was a community fight.

According to him, it is not what the police alone can handle. It has become a community fight and can only be solved with the help of the people.

He said: “The tracking unit has helped us a lot in solving kidnap cases. I can tell you that we have resolved 90 percent of kidnap cases across the country. We have rescued victims and arrested most of the suspects in almost all the crimes. Some of the suspects are in our custody. 
“We have been able to achieve this with the tracker in Abuja. So, in order to achieve more, we are establishing two other tracking units. One in Lagos and another in Rivers State to serve the east and west.

“When I assumed duty, one of the plans we came up with was to rehabilitate our forensic units. I outlined the challenges of the police and how to handle them. But the thing is that we have been having funding challenges.

“We are trying to address it in a wholistic manner. Very soon we are going to have National Security Summit. Kidnapping seems to be a community problem.

“Over 90 percent of victims have been rescued. I agree that it is becoming a major challenge. It cuts across the entire country. It has to be addressed in various forms.

“It is not just the police or security agencies. Take for instance where the Turkish School students were kidnapped. That school is situated at the foot of a swamp. Despite that parents pay huge amount of money, the school didn’t invest much in security.

“So, we are going to use the summit to address these issues as well as others like the herdsmen and farmers issues. These issues are further dividing us as a nation and we need to solve them.

You cannot have the maximum support of security in an area without the support of the public. Everybody has one thing or the other to make our society safe.”

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