INTERPOL Salutes Nigerian Police for Breakthroughs in Investigation, Arrests of Transnational Criminals; Commence Assessment of Crime Fighting Facilities; DIG Alabi commends organization for facilitating Cross Border Investigations

The International Police Organization (INTERPOL) has said that the crime fighting successes and breakthroughs by the Nigerian Police force through its National Central Bureau (NCB) particularly as it regards investigating transnational crimes, advance fee fraud, trafficking and cyber criminality has left INTERPOL with no option than to sustain provision of modern technical and facilities support to NCB.

The Head of the African Regional Bureau of INTERPOL, Abidjan, and former Inspector General of Police of Burkina Faso, Ms Paule Quadrago made this known on Tuesday when she led a delegation to the Force Criminal Investigations Department (FCID) on an assessment visit to ascertain the installation and workability of INTERPOL investigative, monitoring and intelligence sharing equipment being provided to support the Nigerian Police.

According to the Regional head, “INTERPOL’s fight against transnational crimes, counter terrorism efforts and trafficking among others, through its WAPIS programme (West Africa Police Information System and the I-247 database system as well as other supportive projects are critical technical facilities through which substantive investigative breakthroughs have been made and the delegation is here to assess the workability of the systems to see if there is need for either upgrade or further technical support.

“We are here to check the quality and standard of the equipment put up in our member countries to ensure that the specification of international standard which we requested for were provided because fighting organized crime especially trans border or transnational crimes require reliable, up to date and standardized technology and INTERPOL wants to ensure that these requirements are met.

In his remarks, the Deputy Inspector General of Police in charge Force Criminal Investigations Department, DIG Sylvester Abiodun Alabi disclosed that the National Central Bureau in Nigeria has been able to record such investigative feat acknowledged by INTERPOL because of the quality of Police officers deployed to perform detective/investigative duties adding that the Inspector General of Police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun has left no stone unturned in ensuring maximum support for the NCB

“The quality of officers deployed by the Nigerian Police force to INTERPOL, has manifested in the organizations growth and successes hence it is no surprise that INTERPOL has produced two former Inspectors General of Police of the NPF being former IGP Hafiz Ringim (rtd) and former IGP Muhammed Adamu (rtd).

“INTERPOL Nigeria has been a model in the African region but it is always important to have checks because of the specialized nature its impact have on peace and security among member countries and the continued need to always be a step ahead of organized criminal gangs”.

While commending the organization for its interest in Nigeria, DIG Alabi said, “INTERPOL has facilitated a lot of arrests and investigations of transnational crimes for the Nigerian Police force within and cross the borders and this should be commended”.

Earlier, the Assistant Inspector General of Police in charge, National Central Bureau (NCB), which is Interpol Nigeria, AIG Stanley Ude expressed gratitude for the technical support of INTERPOL in providing technical assistance for the operations of the WAPIS programme and the I-247 database facilities in particular noting both have in no small measure enhanced the NCB capabilities in transnational crime fighting and prevention.

“We whole-heartedly welcome your delegation for the interest you have shown in Nigeria over the years and we assure INTERPOL of our readiness to continue to partner towards ensuring a crime free society across the globe.

The INTERPOL delegation also included Noha Amer, Senior Project Manager, Global Outreach and Regional Support from Interpol headquarters, Lyon, France