By Daniel Idonor
ABUJA — THE Federal Government has contracted an Israeli firm to build a multi-billion naira Global System for Mobile, GSM, tracking device for the Nigeria Police Force to aid in tackling kidnapping and armed robbery cases in the country.

A highly placed police source told Vanguard at the weekend that the communication device will be fully installed and operational by March 2011.

According to the source the equipment, when operational, will help the police to track the movement of kidnappers and their victims as well as armed robbers during operations in the country.

The move, it was learnt, is to ensure that once a kidnap case is reported, the police would have the capacity to track down the criminals; even as the tracking device has the capability of tracking phone calls to zero location.

Vanguard gathered that the communication tracking device is expected to be linked to the satellite with GPRS facilities for quick response operations.

The senior police source who would not want his name in print said the tracking equipment will have bases installed in the 12 zonal police commands across the country with its headquarters operation base sited in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory, FCT.

The source said the Israeli company that won the contract for the installation of the equipment has agreed to train 30 members of the police force for the smooth take-off of the project in 2011.

The company, it was further gathered, has also agreed to pay those trained to man the communication facility special allowances, free accommodation and feeding for two years before handing them over to the police authorities.

The firm, it was learnt, rejected the initial list as it maintained that it required only police officers with ICT background.

The source said after much consultations, a new list of 40 police officers with ICT background were selected and forwarded to the Israeli firm leaving the final selection of the 30 participants to the company.

“We had to speak with the Inspector General of Police to ensure that only qualified personnel were drafted for the programme. After the IGP’s intervention, a list of 40 personnel was sent to the firm from which they should choose those qualified,” the source stated further.

President Goodluck Jonathan had recently at a public function announced that in the nearest future that Nigerians will celebrate the end of kidnapping and other violent crimes across the country; perhaps due to the tracking device that is in the offing.