Corruption Slows Down War against Terrorism, Says IG

Dele Ogbodo in Abuja

The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mr. Ibrahim Idris, yesterday admitted that endemic corruption within the system has considerable negative effect on the war against terrorism in Nigeria.

In a statement signed by the Force Public Relations Officer, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Donald Awunah, which was made available to the media in Abuja, said he also acknowledged the disturbing trend of cybercrime, corruption, drug related offences and terrorism.

The Police boss who made the disclosure at the 85th Interpol General Assembly, in Bali, Indonesia, said nations should collaborate on finding ways to check the funding of terrorism.

The statement read: “As part of the concerted efforts to ensure that Nigeria is an integral part of global policing system, the Inspector General of Police, IGP Ibrahim Idris attended the 85th Interpol General Assembly in Bali, Indonesia, which ended weekend.

The meeting, according to the statement is usually held once in a year by one hundred and ninety countries, Interpol member nations and attended by Ministers of Security, Chiefs of Police and law enforcement agencies.

“Accompanying the Inspector General of Police to this year General Assembly were the Comptroller General of Immigration Alhaji Mohammed Babandede, the Commissioner of Police Interpol, CP Subair Olusola, the director General, NDLEA, Alhaji Abdallah and the Interpol System Consultant, Chikwe Udensi,” the statement added.

The IGP, who is an International Police Reforms Resource Person, was mandated to head the panel to discuss transnational organised crime. He emphasised the challenges posed by systemic corruption and its negative effects in the fight against transnational organised crime.
He however stressed the efforts of the current administration is waging war making against corruption.

The statement read: “In all Interpol member countries, there is the National Centre Bureau (NCB) which is the arm of Interpol in every member country. The tool used by National centre Bureau in connecting the Interpol Headquarters is the i-24/7. The i-24/7 is the National Data Base for wanted persons, stolen vehicles, arms, artefacts and missing persons etc.

“The i-24/7 is expected to be connected to key law enforcements agencies in Nigeria e.g. Immigration, Economic and Financial Crime Commission [EFCC], Airports, Seaports and all international borders. However, currently the connectivity is restricted to the Police. The IGP had a strategic meeting with the high command of the Interpol and discussed the general applicability of i-24/7 in Nigeria which will soon take off.

“At the end of the three days 85th Interpol General Assembly, the Chinese Deputy Minister of Security was elected the president of Interpol following the expiration of the tenure of the incumbent president. The next Interpol General Assembly will hold in Beijing China next year, 2017.”

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