The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) is set to launch a ‘New Handbook on Counter-Terrorism Investigations’ developed exclusively for Nigerian investigators working in the counterterrorism arena.
The handbook will help strengthen the fight against insurgency and terrorism in the country.
According to UNODC working in conjunction with the European Union and the Nigeria Police Force, the new Nigeria Handbook on Counter-Terrorism Investigations is designed to help Nigerian investigators to develop the skills and approaches necessary to ensure that evidence left behind at crime scenes is recovered and analyzed, that investigative leads are effectively identified and pursued, and that potential intelligence opportunities are leveraged and exploited.
The UNODC noted that each terrorist incident poses unique and significant challenges to the law enforcement and security professionals charged both with finding the individuals responsible, along with those who supported and directed them, and also with the weighty responsibility of trying to prevent the next attack.
In his Foreword to the Handbook, Inspector General of Police, Muhammed A. Adamu welcomed the launch of Handbook and thanked UNODC for its contribution to Nigeria’s struggle against terrorism.
“The multi-faceted challenges posed by 21st century terrorist organizations require the adoption of innovative new approaches both on the frontline and in cyberspace. As terrorism evolves, so must we,” Adamu said
Mr. Oliver Stolpe, UNODC Country Representative to Nigeria, added that by combining sound foundational principles with the latest advances in forensic science and investigative best practice, “there is a hope that the handbook will become an indispensable aid for police trainers working across the country, and help a new generation of Nigerian counterterrorism investigators to hold offenders to account and deliver justice to their victims.”
Ambassador Ketil Karlsen, Head of the European Union Delegation to Nigeria, emphasized the important role of that law enforcement can play in combatting terrorism.
He said, “The EU is supporting the fight against terrorism and violent extremism in Nigeria in a comprehensive and multifaceted way. A key focus is on backing Nigerian-led initiatives that strengthen criminal justice responses to terrorism. The Nigerian Handbook on Counter-Terrorism Investigations, developed with top international expertise from UNODC, will no doubt help conducting more coherent and valid investigations.”