Police inaugurates workshop on online tracking of terrorists, fraudsters

The Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, has inaugurated a workshop on online tracking of terrorists and fraudsters by police investigators, stating that the Force on its own cannot eliminate cyber-crime without the support of the citizens.
He noted that the police would need to work hand in hand with the Cyber-crime Advisory Council Office, the international community and Information and Communication Technology firms to find solutions to cyber-crime in the country.
Speaking at the two-day cyber-crime and forensic investigation workshop on Monday in Abuja, the IG explained that the Force is building on its existing forensic and cyber-crime facilities in order to successfully tackle the menace of the complex crime.
Idris, who was represented by Assistant Inspector-General of Police, Intelligence, Umar Shehu, noted that criminals were constantly looking for ways to take advantage of the loopholes in the cyber technology.
The IG observed that the cyber-criminals were well organised and willing to invest in modern technology so they could commit identity theft and privacy invasion, fraudulent electronic transactions and cause havoc through insertion of computer virus and malware infections in personal and corporate computers to get the upper hand or blackmail and distribute denial of service.
He expressed concern over radicalisation and violent extremism as well as terrorism perpetrated through website hacking and defacement.
He said, “More worrisome, is the radicalisation and violent extremism, terrorism perpetrated through the cyberspace, website hacking and defacement. It is very important we recognise at the onset that we cannot prevent or eliminate cyber-crime on our own, we need to work hand in hand with the the Cyber-crime Advisory Council Office, the ICT organisations, international community and perhaps, most importantly, our citizens to find solutions to cyber-crime.”
Idris stated that the workshop participants would be trained on how to conduct reactive and proactive internet investigations; scientific police Investigation processes, tools and techniques for tackling cyber-crime and social media and its role for law enforcement.
The officers would also receive training in policing cyber-terrorism in cyberspace attributed to terrorist organisations, cyber-investigators capturing users requirements for cyber-security investigations and how to manage a digital forensic laboratory.