ICT Rings End Time for Boko Haram

At the onset they appeared untouchables. Some people as with Nigerian mentality began alluding voodoo to their existence thereby giving them some semblance of invisibility that the security agencies would not be able to track and arrest them. Technology, has however demystified them, Nigeria CommunictionsWeek can now report.
Now the world of terrorism and Boko Haram, the dreaded Islamist extreme group may be crumbling fast like a pack of cards as the government’s security apparatus seem to easily burst their moves.
Riding on information and communication technology especially mobile phone logs, security operatives are now able to track and arrest members of the notorious armed gang.
Nigeria CommunicationsWeek gathered that the development is one of the gains of the Sim card registration embarked upon by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to put identity to every mobile phone users.
Thanks to ICT, security operatives appear to be gaining some grounds after the initial sloppiness in handling of the lethal gang.
 Only a few weeks ago, Abul Qaqa, the alleged official spokesman of the group was arrested after a trace was put on his mobile phone devices. The suspect, however said he surrendered voluntarily. Either ways, communication was vital in bringing him in.
Marilyn Ogar, spokesperson of the state security service (SSS) said Qaqa was arrested in Kano where a deadly operation by the group left more than 200 dead.
Last Friday, SSS operatives also re-arrested Kabiru Sokoto, alleged mastermind of the Christmas Day bomb blast at the St. Theresa Catholic Church in Madalla, near Abuja in a Taraba state border town with Cameroon. The blast left scores of people dead.
Subsequently, the government through the office of the national security adviser, led by General Andrew Azazi, (rtd.) began installation of special mobile phone tracking technology across the country. The call monitoring centres located in strategic places nationwide are manned by specialized Army corps of intelligence officers and others from the signals corps.
Nigeria CommunicationsWeek can report that large scale deployment of advanced communication equipment such as cell phone location tracking system, counter-surveillance jammer; advance explosive detector, satellite monitoring system and tactical information system are ongoing.
The deployment of these hitech equipment nationwide is costing the tax-payers a whopping N900 billion.
Recent advancement in technology enables security agencies using such tools as Google Latitude to track a call. It works with a mobile phone and you can build what’s essentially a GPS network of friends, without the need for GPS technology.
According to Google, the Latitude doesn’t even need GPS, and it will work on almost any mobile phone that can use Google Maps; including Android-powered devices, iPhone, BlackBerry, Windows Mobile 5.0+ and Symbian.
Nigeria CommunicationsWeek gathered that using mobile phone to fight terrorism has been implemented with great success in some countries.
In Nigeria, mobile phone can even be put to more work thanks to the country’s growing tele-density and the affordability of product and services.
In more developed countries, security agencies send a message along with an image or a video asking to help locate a terrorist along with the incentive.
 This way, people will effectively look for the person and can give intelligence instantly using mobile phones and the cellular network.