Geospatial Intelligence Training Concept for Terrorism Surveillance, Nigeria to Infusive Sub-Saharan African Countries

Abstract

The wave of insecurity, terrorism, kidnapping, killing, and shooting of innocent citizens, as well as environmental destruction due to terrorism in Nigeria is of great concern to governments, security operatives and the civil society. Life now means nothing to terrorists operating in the region, as hundreds of people are kidnapped or killed every day. Information about these crimes and atrocities virtually end up on social media with heart breaking photographs, thus bringing down the dignity of man on earth. This paper proposes a geospatial intelligence framework for terrorism surveillance (GIFTS) so that terrorists’ activities in Nigeria could at least be digitized on crime maps, and published as an outcome of surveillance research. The framework will enable scholars designated as research associates from Federal University of Technology Owerri (FUTO), and those from 5 other universities in Nigeria to acquire geospatial intelligence and engage in surveillance research extended to selected sub-Saharan African countries. This will be the first of such framework in the region, adaptable by any institution or organization worldwide. Sadly, Nigeria spent millions of dollars sending micro satellites into the orbit, but most regional researchers do not have access and capacity to use the imagery data and information. This model therefore will have state of the art tools to build geospatial intelligence capacity among scholars, government agencies, police and the military, using training modules on 12 project areas.