Nigeria allies with FBI in international fight against terrorism, cybercrime
President Bola Tinubu’s government on Friday indicated Nigeria’s interest in enhancing stronger partnership with the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in a bid to confront growing presence of terrorist activities and cyber criminals in the region.
Tinubu expressed this determination during a meeting with the FBI Director, Christopher Asher Wray, at the State House in Abuja, highlighting that this would cement “Nigeria’s partnership in the work of America’s law enforcement.
”It is an honour for me to receive Director Christopher Wray, the leader of an organization that has demonstrated consistent procedural sophistication and a reputation for excellence over several years,” the president said.
“Your visit conveys the importance of Nigeria and Nigeria’s partnership in the work of America’s law enforcement institutions and vice-versa.
“For us, it is a recognition of what stage we are at, who we are, and the level of interest both countries share in eliminating crimes locally and globally.”
The president assured the FBI Director, Christopher Asher Wray, that Nigeria is also coordinating efforts with other West African countries to fight cybercrimes and terrorist operations.
”We cannot achieve this important feat of eliminating crimes without collaboration. Incidentally, as the Chairman of ECOWAS, Nigeria is also collaborating with other West African countries to fight economic and other related crimes,” Mr Tinubu said.
”We are working hard to eliminate terrorism, cybercrimes, sextortion, and I am glad that we have a good number of agencies that are involved in reducing these crimes to the barest minimum, and they are also well represented at this meeting.”
Wray, in his statement, said the that United States honours the Nigerian government’s partnership interest in corporating with the National Security Agency (NSA).
”We appreciate the President’s vision in countering terrorism in the region, which is a dangerous threat, not only to the countries in the region but also to the United States,” Wray said.
”We appreciate your vision in re-engineering the role of the Office of the NSA to effectively coordinate efforts on counter-terrorism, and this has already started to bear fruits in terms of the success you are recording against ISIS in West Africa and other terrorist groups.
”We appreciate your support and collaboration on cyber-enabled crimes and sextortion, which has unfortunately resulted in a few tragic deaths in the United States.
”I want to assure you of our support whether it is on counter-terrorism, cyber-enabled crimes, kidnapping, joint investigations, and intelligence sharing. Our relationship with Nigeria is a very important one,” the FBI Director added.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is the United States domestic intelligence and security service Agency responsible for the US federal law enforcement.
Nigerian Security chiefs present at the State House meeting with the FBI Director, Christopher Asher Wray, in Abuja, were: The National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu; Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun; Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS), Yusuf Magaji Bichi; the Chairman of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Brigadier-General Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd); Chief of Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA), Major-General Emmanuel Undiandeye; Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Olanipekun Olukoyede; and the National Coordinator of the National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC), Major-General Adamu Laka.
