How A Lack Of Surveillance Technology Helps Terrorists And Criminals

Abuja— On July 5, 2022, a few hours after midnight, the majority of people in Kuje, one of the six satellite towns that abut Abuja, the administrative center of Nigeria, were asleep.

However, the quiet sleep was disturbed by loud gunshots and explosions that were eventually identified as coming from the renowned Kuje Medium Security Custodial Centre. White-collar suspects and convicted felons have been known to reside at the Center.

The type of crime changed as the population of Nigeria’s capital city increased. For terror suspects brought in from several neighboring states, particularly Borno in the northeast, the center turned into a makeshift detention center. Currently, According to some sources, the entire coordinated armed assault took about fifty minutes. Leaders of detainees associated with the terror groups Boko Haram and Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) reportedly delivered a 15-minute sermon to the group’s members and other people within the facility just before the attack started.

Over 879 inmates, including 68 Boko Haram terrorists who were imprisoned, vanished into thin air as the dust cleared.

According to security specialists who later assessed the incident, the terrorists used gunfire to overwhelm security personnel and enter the complex, describing the operation as well-coordinated.

Because of the prison’s location in Abuja, the capital of Nigeria, and its standing as one of the most Given that the prison was situated in Abuja, the capital of Nigeria, which is regarded as one of the country’s safest towns, the incident was especially concerning.

As was to be expected, current President Muhammadu Buhari was furious upon learning of the occurrence. Hours later, he visited the detention facility and conveyed his disgust.

Unfortunately, the so-called Kuje jailbreak was not a singular event; rather, it was a part of a broader pattern of terrorist attacks and jailbreaks at similar facilities throughout Nigeria. According to accounts at the time, it was really the eleventh prison break in the nation in as many years.

Investigators found a number of errors, including the startlingly non-functional and, in most cases, non-existent Close Investigators found a number of shortcomings, including the startlingly non-functional and, in most cases, non-existent CCTV, command centers, and closed-circuit television cameras.

Investigators discovered that the few CCTV cameras positioned throughout the prison were not working during the Kuje tragedy. It was startling that even though these cameras were placed throughout the building, they did not offer any useful monitoring or notify the authorities of the approaching assault.

In sensitive locations such as custodial centers, public buildings, highways, banks, schools, hospitals, recreational centers, and other public institutions, the incident made clear the necessity of having secure systems that are both operational and well-maintained.

The Nigerian Correctional Service was instructed by the National Assembly, especially the Senate, to make sure that all correctional facilities, including the Kuje jail, are outfitted after the incident. In order to stop such crimes in the future, the Nigerian Correctional Service was instructed by the National Assembly, especially the Senate, to make sure that all correctional facilities, including the Kuje jail, have operational CCTV cameras after the attack. And the issue was relegated to the historical dustbins.

But soon after, the evil of kidnappings for ransom was added to the list of violent crimes, which caused the Federal Government to feel embarrassed and anxious.

Under President Buhari and his successor, Bola Tinubu, the problem took on a concerning new dimension, aside from the 2002 kidnapping of more than 200 schoolgirls from Chibok, in Borno State, during the Jonathan administration.

Nowadays, kidnappings for ransom are commonplace.
In addition to random travelers being stopped on highways, Nowadays, kidnappings for ransom are commonplace.
In addition to being picked up off highways by random travelers, people are also being followed and picked up from their houses.

In the Galadimawa Area of Abuja, 19 (19) persons were kidnapped from their residences, among them Mr. Chris Agidy, a Senior Legislative Aide to Senator Ned Nwoko (APC, Delta North).

The seriousness of the situation was expressed in a statement released by the Senator’s office, which read, “We address the recent kidnapping incident in Galadimawa, Abuja, involving multiple individuals, including the Senator’s esteemed Senior Legislative Aide, Barrister Chris Agidy, with profound concern and heavy hearts.”

“Roughly two weeks ago, 19 people were forcibly removed from their homes in the Galadimawa neighborhood of Abuja,” it continued.

Senator Sen. Nwoko acted right away to secure the release of the kidnapped individuals, calling the Commissioner of Police and launching the OC Anti-Kidnapping team.

“Unfortunately, updates from credible police sources confirm that 12 of the 19 people who were kidnapped have been killed, while seven are still in the kidnappers’ custody.”

A CCTV contactor with $490 million disappears
Following these deaths in 2024, there were requests for additional investigations into the contract award, which some estimates showed increased from $490 million to $500 million in total cost, including interest and inflation.

When the contract was given using the $490 million USD acquired from a Chinese bank, Senator Adamu Aliero, who served as the FCT’s minister, As FCT Minister, Senator Adamu Aliero acknowledged to his colleagues that he was the one who awarded the contract but that the contractor “disappeared with the money” after the $490 million USD that was received from a Chinese bank was used to do so.

The contract, which called for installing CCTV, closed-circuit television, cameras, and command centers in Abuja, was intended to increase security in the capital city. However, because of its purportedly subpar execution, it has subsequently come under fire.

Aliero unanimously decided to launch a probe, much like the majority of his colleagues who spoke vehemently during the debate.

The CCTV scheme was conceived by Yar’Adua.
The initial idea for installing CCTV cameras came from the administration of The CCTV scheme was conceived by Yar’Adua.
During a 2008 trip to China, the late President Umaru Yar’Adua’s administration came up with the idea to install CCTV cameras.

The $490 million loan from China In 2010, the Nigerian and Chinese governments reached a widely reported agreement on the CCTV project. The project’s goal was to use cutting-edge Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) technology to build a comprehensive surveillance system for Abuja, Nigeria’s capital. The project’s goals were to lower crime, increase security, and raise everyone’s standard of living in Abuja, including locals and tourists.

Context
The administration of President Goodluck Jonathan, which continued the Yar’Adua Presidency, authorized the contract for the installation of CCTV in key areas of Abuja after the increase in insecurity there. Context
The administration of President Goodluck Jonathan, which continued the Yar’Adua Presidency, approved the contract for the installation of CCTV in key areas of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in response to the increase in insecurity in Abuja. This will allow security agencies to quickly identify, prevent, and solve crimes, as is the case in many other nations.

ZTE Corporation, a Chinese company, was given the $490 million contract. A loan from China was used to provide the cash, with the Federal Government contributing roughly 10% of the total.

The Global Trunk Tracking system, which was also appropriate for disaster relief, election monitoring, and result verification, was also supposed to accompany it. It has been effectively deployed and implemented, and countries like Ghana are using it. The Global Trunk Tracking system, which was also appropriate for disaster relief, election monitoring, and result verification, was also supposed to accompany it. It is currently in use in countries including Ghana, Senegal, Morocco, and Malaysia after being successfully installed and deployed.

ZTE Corporation, a Chinese business with expertise in information technology and telecommunications, was given the project. The project took 18 months to complete from beginning to end. But after encountering numerous obstacles and delays, it ultimately became one of the numerous Federal Government initiatives that have been shelved.

The goals of the CCTV project
The CCTV project’s principal goals were

*To: Provide real-time monitoring and surveillance capabilities in order to improve security and lower crime in Abuja.

*Improve inhabitants’ general quality of life *Decrease traffic, increase public safety, and speed up emergency response times to improve Abuja’s general quality of life for both locals and tourists.

*Offer a platform for intelligent transport systems, such as those for public transit and traffic control.

CCTV project equipment that has been vandalized or stolen
With a network of more than 1,000 cameras positioned at key points such major highways, intersections, and public buildings, the CCTV project was intended to cover the whole city of Abuja.
Installing a command and control center was another aspect of the project that allowed security staff to keep an eye on events and react to them instantly.

Nevertheless, over ten years after the initial enthusiasm and anticipation for this magnificent initiative, the project remains unfinished, and numerous cameras that were More than ten years later, the project remains unfinished, and many of the cameras that were first put have either been destroyed or outright stolen, despite the early excitement and expectations around this admirable endeavor. Highways and a few key spots both inside and outside the Abuja City Center are littered with poles and empty equipment cases.

The CCTV project has encountered a number of difficulties, such as: finance problems: The Federal Government has had trouble meeting its financial commitments to the Chinese government, which has caused the project to be beset with finance problems.

Numerous technological problems have also arisen, such as concerns with the command and control center and the cameras.

However, corruption was the most significant issue that ultimately caused it to be abandoned.
There The project has been the subject of accusations of corruption, with certain officials allegedly embezzling cash intended for its completion.

Reduced functioning resulted from the discovery that the few cameras that had been initially deployed were flawed and inadequately maintained.

There have been claims that the project was shelved after the contractor, ZTE Corporation, received a $100 million upfront payment, and that the loan was either stolen or mismanaged. In addition to requests for increased accountability and transparency, the Federal Government has come under fire for its subpar management of the entire project.

At one time or another, successive lawmakers in Nigeria have called for and even conducted investigations to prove the involvement of government employees, contractors, and other people suspected of At some time, the Nigerian legislature’s successive members have called for and even conducted investigations to prove the involvement of government officials, contractors, and other people who are alleged to have bungled the project. Not much, if anything, has emerged from it.

Project abandoned, according to the 7th House of Representatives
The Seventh House of Representatives’ (2011–2015) examination revealed that the project had been mainly shelved and that what little had been done had been done using inadequate tools. Both Senate and House of Representatives lawmakers made the customary sounds but did nothing that may result in the arrest and potential prosecution of those involved in the trade, which has remained one of countless occasions when Nigeria’s commitment to fighting combat corruption has come under scrutiny.

Some people associated with the contract were identified through another inquiry conducted by the Eighth House of Representatives (2015–2019). The investigation indicted the Ministers of Police Affairs who worked under Jonathan from 2010 to 2014 in January 2017. Alhaji Jelili Adesiyan, Navy Capt. Caleb Olubolade (rtd), and Alhaji Adamu Waziri were among them. James Obeigbu, the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary, was also mentioned.
These accused could not be prosecuted by the Muhammadu Buhari administration, which declared it would combat corruption to “a stand still.”

Zainab Ahmed, Buhari’s Finance Minister, told a confused country that Nigeria is still paying back the Chinese financing for this project, which was very upsetting.

Buhari attempted to bring the project back in Due to financial constraints and technological difficulties, the Federal Government declared in 2019 that the project had been shelved. Nonetheless, the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari declared in 2020 that it would resurrect the project, with a revised completion date of 2023. This commitment persisted until Buhari’s departure. The Federal Government was sued by the advocacy group Social-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, or SERAP, for failing to address the issue. President Buhari was compelled to account for the expenditures by Judge Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court. Until President Tinubu took office in 2023, the directive had not yet been followed. Project failure, national shame — former DSS chief Mike Ejiofor, a former director of the Department of State Services (DSS), told Vanguard that in today’s environment, the value of technology, especially the installation of CCTV cameras, in crime prevention and detection cannot be overstated. He called the $490 million CCTV project in Abuja’s failure a national disgrace and a factor in the crimes that are being committed in and around the capital. He stated that he believed it would be detrimental to Nigeria and Nigerians for everyone involved in what he called a blatant instance of misappropriation of public funds to be free to wander the streets without being held accountable for their crimes. According to Ejiofor, “In a large city like Abuja, the absence of such surveillance cameras not only encourages the commission of crimes but also makes it difficult to detect when they are committed.” CCTV cameras are installed in key locations across contemporary cities across the globe. Although it doesn’t always stop crimes from happening, it can let security personnel know when a crime is going to happen and, in situations where it has already happened, it can help detectives find the offenders. By examining CCTV footage, investigators can solve mysteries that would otherwise be considered puzzling. It is possible to swiftly identify suspects and apprehend them for prosecution. He added, “A foreign bank loaned more than $490 million to deploy these cameras in Abuja around a decade ago. However, these funds were stolen. I anticipate that the money should have been recovered and the people involved looked into by now. Without asking questions, anyone cannot simply enter and take public funds in that manner. “I anticipate that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offenses Commission (ICPC) will be investigating these areas.” Security consultant: CCTV coverage helps prevent crimes Kenneth Philip, a private security consultant, stated in a similar vein that the majority of developed cities today have improved security, primarily because of technology provide the necessary security layer to protect the environment. “In cities like Tel Aviv in Israel, Madrid in Spain, or London in the United Kingdom, crimes hardly go undetected,” he stated. We haven’t even discussed locations like the US, Dubai, China, Germany, and Korea. One thing unites all of these locations: highly sophisticated CCTV coverage. In addition to the ones that are financed by publicity, both private citizens and businesses are urged to install them in their residences and places of employment. All of this is done to help the ones that are supported by the government. The riddle surrounding the terrorist strikes in London in the middle of the 2000s was largely solved thanks to CCTV footage. “It is unfortunate that the event in We still don’t have all the details of what happened at Kuje Prison. “Isn’t it embarrassing that man hole covers were picked right from under street lights without a trace?” Philip asked, taking the opportunity to vent his disgust with what he viewed as the unsuccessful Abuja CCTV project’s contribution to crime within the city. “I’m pretty sure that such petty crime would have been stopped in its tracks before it became the epidemic it is today if the Abuja CCTV project had been finished.” The federal government must act quickly to finish the project and make sure it is operating efficiently, the two security officials stated. Security professionals give answers. Individually, they suggested that the federal government should Give the project top priority and make sure it is operational. In order to improve security and lower crime rates across the country, they also urged the government to make sure that the facilities, when they are offered, are kept up properly and that the cameras are of the best caliber possible. Additionally, they suggested that the government think about extending the project to other Nigerian cities. In order to prevent future offenders, they also believed that individuals who failed the original project should be looked into, found guilty, and forced to return money that was stolen as well as serve jail time. To address new threats, we have fortified security forces. -Tinubu President Bola Tinubu, meanwhile, has stated that his administration has reinforced the country’s security system to allow it react effectively the new security issues that the nation faces. In Abeokuta, Ogun State, Tinubu made this declaration while opening the fifth edition of the CARSPO conference and retreat for senior police officers. He confirmed that his administration acknowledged the role that security plays in a country’s socioeconomic development and, as a result, enhanced its operational capabilities by providing sufficient equipment to handle emergencies and effectively combat crime. The President, accompanied by his Vice, Senator Kashim Shettima, urged Nigerians to work together with the police to create a safer society, emphasizing that policing cannot be successful without public support. Although the Nigeria Police Force is authorized by the constitution to preserve public order, save lives and property, and maintain internal security, and maintain public order, it is critical to acknowledge that security is a shared duty; in order to promote a safer society, communities and residents must actively work with the police. It cannot be successful without the support of the people it serves, regardless of how well-funded and prepared it is. A key component of inclusive policing is public trust and engagement. By making the Nigeria Police Force more efficient and able to carry out its constitutional role as the primary agency for internal security, the President underlined his administration’s commitment to strengthening the force’s institutional capabilities. According to him, the federal government is attempting to overcome the current gaps in security, infrastructure, and recruitment through a comprehensive and long-term program that will entail upgrading necessary combat and protective gear, enhancing mobility, and modernizing police barracks. Tinubu reaffirmed that the new minimum wage was one of several steps the federal government was taking to improve the welfare of Nigerian workers, including police officers. He also said his government would keep working with police leadership to offer financial incentives to encourage officers and all security personnel to give their best effort. He insisted that his administration had implemented a number of changes to lower inflation, stabilize the microeconomic environment, and win back the trust of investors. By cutting fuel and power subsidies, he added, “we are also taking measures to instill peace, stabilize the foreign exchange market, and eliminate financial leakages.” The President stated that in order to reduce transportation costs, increase market accessibility, increase productivity, and generate much-needed jobs, his administration was investing in road and rail infrastructure through public-private partnerships, or PPPs. While admitting that the conference’s theme, “Improving Nigeria’s Internal Security and Economic Prosperity Through Inclusive Policing,” matched the main goals of his administration, President Tinubu declared his commitment to promoting economic growth by utilizing the enormous potential of the nation’s natural and human resources. A secure society is one in which everyone feels safe and protected, according to Dapo Abiodun, the governor of Ogun State, who also spoke. He said that security is the foundation of any flourishing environment. A policing system that actively interacted with local communities, supported human rights, and prioritized transparency was crucial in combatting crime and establishing enduring peace, Governor Abiodun added, adding that inclusive policing was about knowing the particular needs of the people. The governor went on to say that his administration has always placed a high premium on security and has always provided assistance to the state’s police and other security forces through strategic alliances and ongoing investments in cutting-edge security equipment and infrastructure. “We need to create a policing system where all Nigerians, regardless of their background, see law enforcement officers as their friends and feel that they are there to protect them rather than to oppress them,” he stated.The greatest standards of professionalism, moral behavior, and accountability must be upheld by law enforcement personnel. “A police force that gains the public’s trust will find people who are willing to report crimes, give them intelligence, and actively participate in security efforts.” The governor also mentioned that his administration would provide the police with electric motorcycles, similar to how they would have access to drones that could recognize faces and license plates up to 8,000 meters away. He stated that security personnel must adapt to the increasing sophistication of crime by incorporating technology-driven solutions like surveillance drones to monitor large, high-risk regions, especially for prompt emergency response. In order to anticipate and stop criminal activity, we have also made data-driven crime mapping capabilities available. We need also make sure that we start looking at artificial intelligence in order to make sure that we are proactive. Earlier in his speech, Inspector General of Police Kayode Egbetokun stated that intelligence-led policing was crucial as the nation continued to face complex threats like terrorism, cybercrimes, violent crimes, and transnational organized crime. stayed at the center of its activities. In order to increase public trust and encourage active citizen participation in policing, the IGP also revealed that the police force was dedicated to strengthening strategic alliances with both domestic and foreign security organizations and improving community engagement.

He claimed that in order to guarantee that force detectives followed internationally recognized best practices, the Force Criminal Investigation Department, FCID, and other specialized units had been reorganized as a top priority.