Marine Police launches tracking devices to tackle crime on waterways

Peter Olaniyi

The Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG), Marine Police Command, Mohammed Kura yesterday said that the marine police had introduced tracking devices to apprehend criminals on the waterways.

Kura stated this in an Instagram live session with the topic, ”Security and Water Transportation, Post COVID-19″, organized by Zoemaritime Resources Ltd.

He was represented by Cyprian Ovat, a Deputy Superintendent of Police, at the session.

“We are in a digital era and crime is being more sophisticated; the criminals are doing everything possible to beat the police, but we have introduced new methods to combat crime.

“We have their biodata and various tracking devices to track any criminal whose identity and prints are found at the scene of crime.

“Before any crime is committed today, there will be communication between the person online and on the waters, with this, we can track their conversation and this is how we are able to get their identity,” the AIG said.

Kura said that during the COVID-19 pandemic, the command had not recorded any serious incident of crime on the waterways.

He said that during the lockdown, boats were stopped from operation, and men of the command made sure it was enforced to ensure safety.

Kura said that his men patrol the waterways, including canals, to ensure that hoodlums do not take advantage of such areas to unleash their criminal activities on people and businesses.

On their working relationship with the Navy, he said that they shared information, and on many occasions, carried out operations together.

He said that they recognized the importance of working together for the safety of the waterways.

Kura said that being a marine police officer requires specialized training due to the fact that they go for rescue operations on water.

’The officer should be able to jump from one boat to the other and not have fear of drowning.

“There is a training institution in Bayelsa State that will soon kick-off to help with training of marine police officers.

“Being a marine officer is all about interest because this is not an area someone is called to come and join; one should be ready to combat armed robbery at sea and so women with interest are welcomed.

“Presently, we have vibrant and skilled women officers so there is no excuse of gender issue,” he said.

The officer said that the Maritime Police Command was established in 2012 as a zonal command to oversee various police departments with operational mandate on Nigerian waterways.