KIDNAPPING: A CASE FOR N.C.C
The advancement of communication has been an important tool in the fight against crime, used by security operatives the world over. In well organised societies, lots of sinister plots have been suppressed at the incubation period, thanks to communication technology. It's even more reliable considering the fact there is no room for error in the digital world. The importance of communication in modern day policing of our environment, in the face of clear and present dangers, are well shown in epic films like '24', 'Alias' etc.Though they are make believe, but they are an eye opener of what we have been lacking in our country.Call tracing and Triangulation are so important in the work of a security operative, it simplifies his work. It makes it easier for him to safe guard the masses. For Nigeria to claim to be part of the global village, and yet lack the benefits that are synonymous with the technologically enhanced global village is appalling.Everyday,scores of dare devils patrol our streets, while innocent citizens are hound into prison, all based on the judgement of one drunken policeman. Let technology lead the way in our fight against organised crimes!It's no secret that no Country, State, Town or village can develop itself all alone by its citizens, giving rise to the popular saying 'No man is an island unto himself'. The works of Nigerians in U.S are well known, so also the Jews, rumour has it that they are the bedrock of America's technological advancement. So, if Nigeria is to be great, it must attract foreign direct investments. But how can we attract foreign direct investments in the face of all these kidnappings, militancy and assassinations? Kidnapping has killed us. We are caught in an inescapable network of criminality, driven by greed, hopelessness, hatred and neglect. How can we convince foreigners to come, when we ourselves, go to more serene places like Ghana, Togo and even Benin for our leave holidays. Will you blame anyone? No.Even Obama is aware! I am sure that in the nearest future, Nigerians will stage their wedding ceremonies in Ghana and other of our peaceful West-African neighbors. Insecurity is the dangerously structured dam that has blocked the flow of development in Nigeria.I am not unaware of the root cause of these vices; Over the years, our leaders were more concerned in the acquisition of wealth (vanity, I call it), without any meaningful developmental planning, job creation to cater for the teeming population. So the new generation created some sets of employment for themselves, evident in the high number of kidnappings, armed robbery, militancy and assassinations. But is this the way forward? All these will lead to more underdevelopment, which will catch up with us all; militants, kidnappers, just every one of us.We can only attract foreign direct investments, by making use of modern technological developments, one of which is communication technology, and not RE-BRANDING alone,(Madam Minister, you can't re-brand a rotten fish for sale. The smell will scare away buyers.).Let us recognise the urgency of the moment and the need for powerful antidotes to combat the 'disease' of insecurity; we were once safe in our land! I believe the fight against insecurity, with kidnapping as the focal point of analysis, being in vogue now, is a fight for all; F.G, NCC, SECURITY FORCES and even MILITANTS.Militants are involved because kidnapping is the first born of militant's pregnancy. We can't fight it without them, because it affects them as much as it affects us…if only they know.Many years after setting up NCC, it is unimaginable that all we can make out of communication technology is no more than making calls and sending emails, this is a total failure! Eight good years after the introduction of mobile communication, NCC is yet to make use of this enormous tool in the area of security. Its unthinkable that after 8 years of GSM, Mr A. can buy a SIM card at Oshodi,place a call to the president of this nation, insult him and throw away the SIM at Mile 2.Why can't we have a data base for all the mobile subscribers in this country? What better way to fight crime, than knowing the position of a suspect at any time't'.According to NCC, we have a total of 133 million installed capacity for mobile subscribers, assuming every Nigeria on the average, has two mobile lines, this gives us a total of about 65 million subscribers, whose bio data like names, picture, genotype, blood group, DNA, residential address, state of origin, town/village, occupation, active mobile numbers, which can be documented. NCC can set up outpost in all state capital and major towns, for data collation. The existing mobile subscribers can update easily by visiting the outpost stations of NCC, some will ask, why not allow mobile operators to do it, but since those ones are in business, they may compromise. The update of existing mobile users should not be a problem, it can be done bit-by-bit, even if we achieve this under a 5 year program, we are still at no loss. New mobile SIM cards should not work until the required information's are attached to it.What do we stand to gain by going through all these stress? They are enormous. The success of the rescue operation of the Canadian woman kidnapped in Kaduna is a handy example of fighting crime with technology. It was stated that mobile operators were involved in the real-time location of the kidnappers, in collaboration with covert security agents. The question now is, why not apply same technique to other kidnap cases in other parts of the country. Selective treatment will not stand the test of time, against the desperation associated with kidnapping. If a concrete structure is not put in place to treat cases like this, we will be engulfed by the trend.Declaring capital punishment for kidnappers will not help, in the same way it failed to subdue armed robbery. If the country is not made uncomfortable for kidnappers, it will not be comfortable for us. Electoral reform is not the answer, Electoral reform will be meaningless if the stage is for ever volatile for its implementation.2011 is around the corner, be sure that politicians will be kidnapped or assassinated before the elections. By securing the identities of all mobile subscribers in the country, we can by chance, lay hand on some important information that can save lots of innocent lives.Agencies like Police, National Population commission, armed forces etc can all benefit from this setup, when coordinated together. These are the kind of re-branding we want to see. Then Madam Re-brand can easily re-brand our sauntered image, when the activities of 'yahoo-yahoo' boys are taken care of, when kidnappers are easily rounded up, and their victim released.