Leveraging Digital Tracking Devices to End Kidnapping Epidemic 

TECH HUB

The federal government through the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, recently disclosed that President Bola Tinubu had approved emergency procurement of digital tracking devices to track the operations of kidnappers in the nation’s capital.

Digital trackers are Global Positioning System (GPS) enabled devices designed to provide users the power to keep track of the location of a vehicle, asset, or even a person. 

However, lamenting the dearth of the equipment in the past, Wike said the tide would now turn against kidnappers with the emergency procurement approval by the president.

“Digital tracking devices are the special equipment they need and that equipment, we know how expensive it is, but we had it and that was able to help us reduce the level of crime. “It was able to track the specific phones, not one that would say for example the criminals are around the city here.

“With that equipment, it was specific. It can track a particular phone to the exact spot or room. So, what we have done with the approval of Mr. President is that we have been able to identify what each of the agencies need and we will be able now to provide them.

“But if you have this equipment, you don’t need to seek approval of your headquarters to begin to seek equipment to track the criminals,” Wike said.

A tech expert and Founder of Praiz Tech, Mr. Victor Madu, told THISDAY that the awakening of the federal government to the potential of technology was long overdue. 

He confirmed that with the Global Positioning System (GPS) enabled tracking device coordinates – the latitude and longitude of the kidnappers’ hidden dens could be accurately located.

He noted that technology has the potential of putting a competent security structure in place. 

Speaking further, Madu explained that tracking devices could be external devices pinned to a person and internal devices injected into the body.

He added that, although tracking devices have more advantages, their disadvantage was that it could lead to infection when injected into the body. 

He said: “The tracking device with software will help in tracking someone or something anywhere not too far from the signal point. A tracking device has advantages and disadvantages especially when it comes to the types of device implored.

“Trackers could be internal – injected into the body, and can be external – probably tacked on a cloth or pocketed. Depending on which is considered for the operation it is needed for. The government can explore any of the two types.

“Although, the benefits are more than the disadvantages. Some of the benefits are – that tracking devices especially, can help to eliminate the problem of kidnapping, enhance security and law enforcement in general.

“The only disadvantage of a tracker is when it is injected into the body it may cause infections.  “We trust the security operatives have a reservoir of strategies and the use of digital devices like trackers will be a plus for seamless operations.  “The government and security operatives can implore GPS trackers. This will help them get the specific coordinates of the kidnappers as long as it’s within a location of the satellite.

“We have been using GPS in Nigeria on our phones for location and on some major apps which have been effective and accurate. 

“When the GPS tracker picks a coordinate, it will be easier to get the location without the internet through the latitude and longitude. Each tracker comes with a GPS sensor and can be in different sizes depending on where they want to apply it.

“It can be of a micro size if they want it unnoticeable and could be injected for security measures.”

He urged the government not to consult private firms so that information would not be altered, saying, “because we are talking about the security of the country, I will suggest that the tracking and all other information should be managed by the government.

“Consulting and contracting it to private organisations will subject the process to abuse,” he said.

Speaking on the potential of the device Madu said tracking devices would not only help solve the epidemic of kidnapping, but also expose corruption if strategies are put in place. 

“I’m very sure if the digital tracking devices are put into use properly, it will solve the problem of kidnapping. The thought of the government imploring tracking devices will repel and throw caution on desisting from crimes.

“The tracking device will not only help to tackle kidnapping but also reduce the level of corruption if properly put into use.

“Before now, car theft was a trending issue until car trackers were introduced. Today, car theft has drastically reduced. And a lot of cars today have trackers that make it very easy to retrieve when stolen,” he said.  He concluded by appealing to the government to invest more in technology by building tech hubs across the country.

“I feel the government is not doing enough in terms of technology. The potential of technology is underestimated in Nigeria.

“The Japa syndrome is also affecting the tech industry because our best hands are being taken abroad and they earn in dollars. The government should set up tech hubs across the country to train young Nigerians.

“I understand the Three Mullion Technical Talent program (3MTT) program is ongoing and there are robust tech programs, but building a fully equipped tech hub across the country will help.

“Also, the government should create a platform where young Nigerians would showcase their tech skills and help sponsor projects. The government will be amazed to know that thousands of Nigerian youths with good tech projects will rewrite the history of Nigeria in the tech ecosystem if funded,” he stated. 

In his contribution, a tech security expert, Mr. Seyi Akanni, lauded the government for deploying technology to tackle insecurity.

He, however stressed that the National Identification Number (NIN) database should be used in the course of tracking. 

He argued that with the use of both NIN and digital tracking devices, the locations of the kidnappers would be easier to spot. 

 “According to the former Minister of Digital Economy, Prof. Isa Pantami, there’s a NIN database that can be used to effectively identify the owners of the phone numbers used in calling the families of the victims.

 “If the security agencies make use of this database with the tracking device(s) then it’ll be possible to track the locations where such calls originate from.

 “I believe that the calls might not come from the camp where the hostages are held but it’ll help to identify the kingpins of the kidnapping syndicate. This tracking device(s) can be best utiliSed if integrated with the NIN database,” he said.

 He also called for collaboration between security agencies and telecommunications operators. 

 “SIM cards used for their calls can be tracked by telecom service providers to enable the security agencies to know the cell tower under which the calls originated.

“Working closely with the telecoms operators and security agencies listening to the phone conversations between three kidnappers and the families of the victims. 

 “There’s a need for inter-agency cooperation/collaboration to allow for the effective use of technological innovation within the security architecture. Records and database should be shared between the security agencies,” he said.