By Henry Oladele
A criminologist, Prof. Adedeji Oyenuga, has urged more investment in security, national unity and intelligence sharing to tackle rising insecurity in Nigeria.
Oyenuga, Professor of Criminology and Security Studies at Lagos State University (LASU), spoke in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.
He also coordinates the university’s Master’s programme in Criminology and Security Studies.
Oyenuga said insecurity had become increasingly complex, requiring both immediate and long-term strategies to effectively address the challenge.
“Security requires huge investment. Security is not cheap. While government invests in security, criminals also invest in insecurity,” he said.
According to him, insecurity should remain Nigeria’s top budgetary priority because of its impact on development and citizens’ safety.
The professor described Nigeria’s security crisis as largely political, noting that organised insecurity expanded after the country returned to democratic rule in 1999.
He said past military administrations adopted stricter security measures, while civilian governments relied more on political and administrative approaches.
Oyenuga stressed the need for Nigerians to prioritise national unity above ethnic differences.
“We are supposed to promote Nigerianism. Internally, we must reduce divisions caused by ethnicity and focus more on national identity,” he said.
He added that citizens must support security agencies through intelligence gathering and information sharing.
“Everybody expects government protection, but citizens also have responsibilities. If you know criminal activities happening around you, you should report them.
“We need to work more closely with law enforcement agencies for security to improve,” he said.
Speaking on digital forensic investigations, Oyenuga described forensic science as the application of scientific methods and technology in solving crimes.
He explained that digital forensics emerged from the growing relevance of the internet, databases and technology in criminal investigations.
Oyenuga said he partnered with Robert Fried to distribute 100 security books across eight Nigerian universities.
He said Fried, author of “Forensic Data Collection 2.0”, also trained students virtually on digital forensic investigations.
Participating institutions included Olabisi Onabanjo University, Osun State University, Thomas Adewunmi University and University of Ilorin.
He added that some online participants were also selected to receive free copies of the book.
According to him, databases such as the Bank Verification Number and National Identification Number are important investigative tools globally.
“In advanced countries, investigators can quickly identify suspects through fingerprints, facial recognition and digital databases.
“In Nigeria, access to such databases remains limited, making investigations slower,” he said.
Fried, speaking virtually, identified rapid technological advancement and rising data volumes as major global challenges confronting digital forensic investigations.
He described digital forensics as the preservation, collection and analysis of electronic data for use in court proceedings.
“The field involves collecting data from computers, laptops and phones while preserving its integrity.
“The end goal is to ensure the data can be used effectively during court proceedings,” Fried said.
Fried, who has spent 24 years in the industry, said investigators now handle evidence from cloud systems, surveillance cameras and external storage devices.
He said: “One challenge is distinguishing visible evidence from hidden evidence.
“You may see computers and printers, but hidden storage devices, cloud connections and Wi-Fi networks may also contain crucial evidence.”
He said the growing complexity and volume of digital information had made investigations more demanding for investigators globally.
Fried also identified weak collaboration between public and private investigators as another major challenge affecting information sharing.
According to him, investigators must ensure fairness while handling criminal cases involving digital evidence.
“If somebody is being tried for a crime, investigators must examine evidence fairly to give that individual a proper opportunity,” he said. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)
Edited by Kamal Tayo Oropo
