Establishment of criminal/profile DNA database and use of forensic intelligence to combat nationwide insecurity issues in Nigeria

Abstract

Criminal activity is on the rise in Nigeria. The nefarious activity of bandits is on the increase with kidnapping of students and attack on farmers. This creates fear in the terrorized communities. Armed robbery as well as rape of citizens going about their normal duties is also on the increase. The road is becoming increasingly unsafe for the citizenry as well as government officials. The government has mandated individuals to register in the National Identification Number NIN which is linked to the Bank Verification Number (BVN) (a database established to curb crime in the banking sector) and the Subscriber Identity module (SIM). The Establishment of such databases is pertinent however the NIN, BVN, SIM-NIN linkage and fingerprints may not be sufficient in solving criminal cases without DNA profiling of convicted individuals, establishment of forensic laboratories and the creation of criminal DNA profile database CRODER – a Criminal offender DNA Exert Repertoire. The role of DNA profiling as an additional measure is to keep a record of all convicted individuals and the CRODER will be an additional useful measure in profiling criminals and individuals can be adopted as a forensic tool in addition to the captured databases of NIN, BVN and NIN-SIM and will be on the watch list of security operatives. The CRODER forensic tool can be done stepwise by availability of an emergency number to dial for emergency, a dispatch personnel to respond to the call, and vigilante groups or other adhoc security officer in the vicinity of the emergency call to get to the vicinity and preserve the crime scene environment for investigators and detectives to work on. CRODER Forensic tool can then be adopted to solve the crime. Offenders trying to escape enroute the airport, can be checked via CRODER and fingerprint compared and matched with the collection in the database. The CRODER may be a necessary stride to bring kidnappers, bandits, and armed robbers to book in record time and curb the rise in criminal activity, insurgency, banditry, and insecurity in general. If properly done, Nigeria will be a haven for citizens and would-be investors.