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EFCC’s “Eagle Eye’’ app as instrument for anti-graft war

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The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) recently inaugurated a data-collection mobile application (app) to enhance its intelligence gathering efforts at fighting corruption.

 

The technology, codenamed “Eagle Eye’’, seeks to boost public participation in the fight against corruption by easing the process of reporting economic and financial crimes to the commission.

A major complaint by anti-graft agencies in the country has been that Nigerians are generally reluctant when it comes to assisting with vital information on criminals and their activities.

Security experts have long identified this as a major setback in the federal government’s fight against corruption in the land.

They blame the public apathy on certain realities, including lack of confidence in security agents based on experiences, and bottlenecks in the conventional financial crime reporting process, which is based on submission of written petitions by informants.

According to the EFCC, “Eagle Eye’’ is designed to address these and several other shortcomings that have long alienated the public in the government’s anti-corruption crusade.

“Eagle Eye does not replace the conventional way of submitting petitions. It is, however, a means of reporting financial crimes as they happen’’ is a message on the app.

Speaking at the inauguration in Abuja, the Chairman of EFCC, Mr Abdulrasheed Bawa, shed light on two key features of the app and how it would make a difference in the financial crime reporting process.

Bawa explained that the technology was designed to guarantee the anonymity or security of anyone reporting cases of corruption to the EFCC.

He said a unique advantage of the application was the elimination of a direct person-to-person interface in the reporting process, thereby guaranteeing confidentiality and “an added incentive for effective whistleblowing’’.

According to him, it is a significant departure from the conventional reporting channel that requires disclosure of an informant’s identity to the commission.

He said that whistleblowers would no longer have to worry about being sold out by corrupt agents to affected criminals.

The app, which is available on Apple or Google Playstore, does not require registration by a user.

Users have an option to reveal their identities by providing personal information such as name, phone number, e-mail address and contact address.

“With the app, those who hitherto were afraid of report corruption cases to the commission either for fear of being identified by the culprits or having their identities revealed, can now do so with the assurance of full anonymity,’’ Bawa said.

He also explained that the “Eagle Eye’’ app does not only make it easy for the public to share information with the EFCC, it also brings the commission closer to the people, especially those at the grassroots.

It eliminates the burden of paperwork, long-distant travel to an EFCC’s office to submit a petition, and the cost and delays associated with mailing of documents to the commission. The technology also came with a photo upload link.

The EFCC boss said:  “Eagle Eye represents a new experience in information sharing and crime reporting between the public and the EFCC.

“With this app, Nigerians and non-Nigerians can easily take a picture of a property suspected to have been fraudulently or corruptly acquired and send to us seamlessly’’.

However, Bawa explained that the app was not a replacement of the traditional way of lodging complaints through lawyers or in-person, adding that the commission would continue to receive information or petitions from individuals the old way.

“We are not going digital completely’’, Bawa said.

Anthony Uzor (not real name), who works in the Federal Ministry of Finance, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that he had always wanted to submit petitions to the EFCC but did not know how to go about it.

Besides, Uzor said the fear of his identity being revealed to those exposed had also been a major drawback for him.

“If this app is what they say it is, then the two major obstacles holding me back from reaching out to the EFCC have been removed; I think it will also encourage many other Nigerians in my shoe,’’ Uzor said.

According to the EFCC chairman, the initiative is a clear demonstration of his pledge, on assumption of office, to run a technology-driven agency.

“The Eagle Eye will go a long way in aiding the reportage of fraudulent activities of individuals, especially cases of money laundering through the real estate sector,’’ he said.

NAN reports that the information sharing links on the app are divided into four sections — A to D.

Section A, which is labelled “Select pictures/camera’’, instructs users to “capture or select from your gallery picture(s) of suspect/assert/property you wish to report’’.

Section B states location details, that is, the location of suspects or assets or property that users wish to report.

Section C, labeled “Report description’’, asks users to provide detailed description of pictures attached.

Under Section D, labelled “Informant details (optional’’), informants who wish to reveal their identities can do so by providing their full names, phone numbers, e-mail addresses and residential addresses.

Bawa, therefore, appealed to the public to take advantage of the app in bringing cases of corruption and economic crimes to the knowledge of the EFCC.

NANFeatures

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Troops arrest two banditry suspects with AK 47 rifles in Taraba

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Army launches Exercise Still Waters III in Akwa Ibom

Troops of 6 Brigade, Sector 3 of the “Operation Whirl Stroke” (OPWS) have thwarted a planned banditry attack in Taraba and arrested two suspects with AK 47 rifles.

According to a statement on Thursday by Capt. Olubodunde Oni, Acting Assistant Director Army Public Relations in Jalingo, said the success was as a result of a coordinated operation based on credible intelligence.

“Upon receiving actionable intelligence, troops on 11 December 2024, swiftly launched a series of aggressive patrols, ambushes, and covert operations to prevent the attack.

“These efforts culminated in the apprehension of two suspected terrorists, identified as Terry Waapara and Tobaya Tekura, in Adu village.

“The suspects were intercepted while attempting to infiltrate the Chachanji market to carry out their nefarious mission, believed to include kidnapping and other criminal activities.

“During the operation, troops recovered 2 AK-47 rifles, 2 AK-47 magazines and 26 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition.

“The suspects are currently in custody and undergoing further investigation to uncover more details about their network and activities.”

The statement quoted the Commander 6 Brigade, Brig. Gen. Kingsley Uwa, commending the troops for their vigilance, professionalism, and swift response, which led to the success.

“I want to assure the good people of Taraba State that the Nigerian Army will remain resolute in its fight against terrorism, banditry, and other forms of criminality.

“I appreciate the support and cooperation of law-abiding citizens in providing timely and credible information.

“Together we will make Taraba a safe environment for all,” Uwa said

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NAPTIP receives 10 rescued victims of human trafficking in Kano

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The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), Kano Zonal Command, has received 10 rescued victims of human trafficking.

The agency’s Zonal Commander, Mr Abdullahi Babale, said this on Thursday in Kano while receiving the victims from the Nigeria Police Force, Kano State Command.

He said that the victims were rescued on Dec. 7 at about 2.40 p.m. in a house situated at Rijiyar Lemu Quarters in Kano by a team of policemen,
led by CSP Bala Shuaibu.

Babale added that the rescued victims, aged between 22 and 42, comprised six females and four males, explaining that “they were on their way to Libya for labour exploitation.

“The rescued victims are from Delta, Edo, Osun, Ogun, and Lagos states.”

The zonal commander commended the Commissioner of Police in Kano State, Mr Salman Dogo-Garba, for his support and cooperation toward rescuing the victims.

He said that the victims would be counselled and rehabilitated before reuniting them with their families and urged parents to protect their children from being exploited and
lured into slavery in the name of seeking for greener pasture.

He urged the public to report suspicious cases of human trafficking in their respective communities.

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British High Commissioner seeks military, civilian efforts in tackling insecurity

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The British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Mr Richard Montgomery, has called for the combination of military and civilian efforts in tackling the complexity of security challenges in Nigeria and globally.

Montgomery made the call at a two-day Security and Justice Symposium organised by the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) in Collaboration with the British High Commission, on Tuesday in Abuja.

He commended the efforts of the Nigerian military in promoting civil-military collaboration and adoption of kinetic and non-kinetic action in addressing the menace of terrorism and insurgency in the country.

“At the heart of all this is recognition of the importance of upholding the rule of law, human rights, humanitarian law and international humanitarian law.

“We need to consider the different legal principles and frameworks that apply to criminal violence or to violent conflicts and how we deal with them in protracted conflict zones.

“We had a legal frameworks roundtable with the Nigerian military officers earlier this year, and a really good debate about how we adapt to different situations.

“I am hoping today we will help progress that dialogue on which Nigerian legal frameworks are appropriate in which circumstances,’’ he said.

Montgomery highlighted the positive and open relationship between the UK and Nigeria, noting that both countries were learning from each other’s experiences in tackling security challenges.

He expressed his appreciation for the opportunity to continue this productive dialogue and hoped that the symposium would result in actionable insights and further strengthen the partnership.

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