PSC Seeks Forensic, DNA Studies To Reform Nigeria Police
The Police Service Commission (PSC) on Monday announced plans to integrate forensic and DNA studies into police operations to strengthen investigations and improve accountability across the security architecture.
Chairman of the Commission, retired Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Hashimu Argungu, made the disclosure while receiving a delegation from the University of Benin’s Center for Forensic Programmes and DNA Studies at the PSC headquarters in Abuja.
The Head of Press and Public Relations at the Commission, Ikechukwu Ani, noted that the delegation was led by the University’s Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration), Professor Christopher Osunbor.
Argungu said embracing forensic and DNA science had become necessary because “crime has gone scientific and across national boundaries,” adding that the Nigeria Police Force must upgrade its investigative capacity to match evolving criminal trends.
He said forensic programs and the use of DNA in investigations would greatly assist both the Police and the Commission, which serves as an oversight body, in handling complex and delicate criminal matters.
The PSC Chairman said, “It is to the advantage of the Commission and the Nigeria Police to embrace forensic and DNA studies,” adding that the knowledge is also valuable for all known professions as it is vital in policy formulation and implementation.
He directed the Commission’s Director of Human Resource Management and Director of Legal Services to immediately engage with the Center and draft a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for partnership, which would also include the Nigeria Police Force.
Argungu confirmed that “the Commission will partner with the Center for Forensic Programmes and DNA Studies (CEFPADS) of the University of Benin.”
Professor Osunbor, who led the University’s team, said they visited the Commission to initiate collaboration and, through it, also engage the Police in building sustainable scientific support for crime fighting and policy implementation.
He noted that the programmes of the Center are “critical to the kind of jobs security agencies are involved in.”
He pledged the University’s readiness “to offer services that are critical to the Commission’s mandate.”
The delegation included Prof. Eddy Ehikhamenor, Director of the Forensics and DNA Centre; Dr. Benedicta Ehanire, Deputy Registrar and Head of Public Relations and Protocol; and Mr. Lucky Ikhalo, Deputy Registrar and Head of the Abuja Liaison Office.
Ehikhamenor stated that the Center operates under a public-private partnership (PPP) framework to ensure continuity and operational efficiency, free from strikes or bureaucratic delays.
He said, “The objectives include building a sustainable bridge in forensics and DNA between the haves and have-nots in Nigeria to ensure appropriate conviction of criminals on all aspects of our development.”
He added, “The Center is built to assist in developing National DNA Database for research and crime investigations, provide a platform for all forensic screening during epidemics or pandemics of various pathogens like covid -19, bacteria etc.”
Ehikhamenor said CEFPADS also aims to support academic institutions. “The Center is to design academic curriculum at Diploma, undergraduate, postgraduate and post-doctoral level for beneficiary Nigeria Universities.
“It also organizes forensic educational training with research to make them eligible to be certified as DNA Analyst or Forensic Analyst with support from our partners in developed countries.”
The Centre, according to him, would also “help to establish the identity of mass casualties and unknown victims dead or alive and provide a template for regular capacity building for several stakeholders such as DSS, Police and the Military.”
Ehikhamenor added that the Centre’s immediate goal is to admit between 12 and 20 police officers annually for training.
He said the offer would depend on how well the Police could fund the programme to perform forensic screening “for alcohol and drugs for arrested suspects nationwide under investigation.”
PSC Seeks Forensic, DNA Studies To Reform Nigeria Police is first published on The Whistler Newspaper
