Technological advancements offer African countries grappling with rising crime rates an opportunity to leverage this tool for enhanced law enforcement. In Africa, technology supports crime-fighting endeavors by enabling real-time tracking and monitoring of criminal activities, leading to faster response times and improved resource allocation for law enforcement agencies.

Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Ayoade Fayoade, in an interview on Friday, February 16, 2024, announced the reactivation of the police force’s tracking device to tackle kidnapping and other crimes in the state. This reactivation comes in response to rising kidnapping cases reported in the country.

Measures have been intensified to address residents’ concerns about kidnapping in various parts of the state. Fayoade stated, “We have reactivated our tracking devices and deployed personnel in identified kidnap-prone areas such as Igbogbo, Ijede, and Idimu.”

In Nigeria, kidnapping has become a profitable criminal enterprise, attracting new perpetrators who hold victims hostage in exchange for ransom. In 2018, Nigeria had the highest number of kidnapping for ransom cases worldwide, as reported by the International Centre for Investigative Report in their article titled “The Cost of Getting Kidnapped in Nigeria.” The incidents of kidnapping started to rise in 2014, with 897 victims recorded, and peaked in 2021, with 5,287 victims, the report further revealed, placing the country “among the Costelli Kidnap Ransom Top Ten Countries for Kidnapping Foreign Citizens in 2022.”

The reactivation of the tracking device and collaborative initiatives demonstrate the proactive approach of the Lagos State Police Command in safeguarding residents against the menace of kidnapping and associated crimes.

Hikmatu Bilali