Following the persistent threat of kidnapping in some parts of Nigeria, the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, has issued a charge to the Deputy Inspector General of Police in charge of the Force Intelligence Department (FID) and the broader intelligence community to enhance their operations and intelligence gathering capabilities to effectively tackle the scourge across the nation.
The IGP’s charge was made known on Wednesday, March 20, 2024, in a statement by the Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi.
The IGP noted that kidnapping and other similar threats had remained significant security challenges in some parts of the country, threatening the safety and well-being of the citizens.
Recognising the gravity of this trend, the NPF was said to be committed to deploying all necessary resources and strategies to curtail the challenges and ensure the safety of all Nigerians.
This made the IGP to direct the Force Intelligence Department to intensify its intelligence gathering efforts and collaborate closely with other law enforcement agencies and relevant stakeholders to gather information about kidnapping syndicates and their dynamic natures across the country.
Furthermore, the IGP urged the intelligence community at large to enhance coordination and information sharing to facilitate targeted operations against kidnappers and their networks, with a view to rescuing the captives at various locations and decimating the activities of the evildoers who are bent on jeopardising the collective peace and stability of the nation.
In a similar vein, the IGP on Wednesday hosted delegates from the United States Treasury Department and the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) at the Force Headquarters, Abuja, in a strategic meeting.
The meeting, it was learnt, focused on enhancing financial intelligence capabilities and strengthening the fight against corruption, counter terrorism financing, and money laundering.
During the productive discussions, both parties emphasised the critical role of financial intelligence in combating various forms of illicit activities.
They reaffirmed the commitment to collaborative efforts aimed at safeguarding national security and promoting integrity in financial systems.
Commending the intelligence operatives across board for their efforts so far in tackling the current security challenges in the country, IGP Egbetokun gave the assurance that the Nigeria Police Force would leave no stone unturned to sustain the fight against kidnapping and other criminal activities.
He expressed the resoluteness of the police to bringing perpetrators of these heinous crimes to justice.
