Some security experts have called for the recruitment of more personnel to raise the manpower level of the military and other security agencies to enhance timely response to security threats across the country.

The experts in an interview with journalists on Wednesday, also canvassed for the deployment of more technology to track criminals terrorising citizens.

An expert in military studies, Muhammed Abubakar, said that there was a need to boost the capacity of troops on the ground and maintain constant air and road patrols to effectively counter the activities of the criminals.

Mr Abubakar said this would deter the terrorists, bandits and kidnappers and make the country more safer.

On the proposed installation of security surveillance systems by the federal government along the Abuja- Kaduna expressway, the expert said that the move may solve the problem of kidnappings along the axis.

The minister of defence, Mohammed Badaru, on Tuesday, inaugurated an eighth-man committee for the provision and installation of security surveillance systems along Abuja-Kaduna highway and rail line.

Mr Abubakar, however, said the surveillance system may not achieve meaningful results if security agencies fail to respond swiftly to the intelligence generated.

He said one of the best ways of enhancing security is to develop synergy between the security forces and locals.

“I have been told that the police are already collaborating with locals to chase the bandits. I think government should find a way to strengthen that kind of partnership.

“Also, drones, instead of static cameras, should be used because the criminals can identify cameras and vandalise them.

“I strongly believe that there is a need for more boots on the ground along the Abuja-Kaduna expressway.

“There must be frequent air and road patrols by the military and the police on that axis.

“I am also concerned about the transparency of this initiative; during the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan, we were told about the installation of CCTV in Abuja by Siemens, which gulped billions, but till today, no camera is working in Abuja,’’ he said.

On his part, Dr Abdullahi Jabi, the secretary general, International Institute of Professional Security, faulted the proposed installation of the security surveillance systems, saying it will be a waste of resources.

According to him, the funds should be used to recruit more personnel into the armed forces, including the police, and provide them with modern equipment to carry out their jobs.

He said adequate equipment should be deployed to well-trained personnel to tackle the menace of kidnapping and other security threats along the highway and anywhere in the country.

According to him, the welfare of armed forces personnel must be enhanced, in addition to robust training.

“If you install cameras and surveillance along the Abuja-Kaduna highway, what happens to other states and other zones?

“It must be domesticated in all the flash points and I think that it is not the right thing to do.

“The best thing is to recruit more people into the force and train them.

“Particularly, the adoption of community policing should now be demonstrated and enhanced as promoted by the late Governor of Ondo State with the establishment of Amotekun,’’ he said.

Mr Jabi also called for the utilisation of space technology to easily locate the hideouts of kidnappers, their positions, actions, and movement, and use air bombardment to do away with them.

He believed that both informants and kidnappers deserved summary execution instead of arresting and investigating them, thereby wasting state resources.

“They both work against the state; if the police arrest them, they should kill them. That is the way to go. It should be operation fire for fire,’’ he added.

(NAN)