Government agencies are organizations set up to perform varying functions that are under the management of the government of a country. These agencies might function in the area of intelligence, security, electoral processes, agriculture, and sports e.t.c.
Among the various functions to which the government of a country is dedicated is ensuring the security of its citizens. Over the years, the issue of security has become a very important one even in Nigeria as a case study.
In light of this, various intelligence agencies in Nigeria have been put in place to help in the fight against criminal activities. Examples are the Nigeria Police Force (NPA) and the State Security Service (SSS).
Among the numerous steps that can be taken by these agencies in their fight against crimes, bulk SMS can be used effectively in curbing criminal activities to a large extent. Here is how this might be done.
Bulk SMS has evolved over the years as an effective two-way communication system. What more? The speed at which it gets delivered to the recipients has also made it one of the exciting and widely accepted mediums of communication in the world today. Organizations, agencies, and big-time business owners have even gone to the extent of generating shortcodes through which people can send messages at ease. The advent of these shortcodes can be the game-changer in curbing criminal activities in Nigeria.
USING SMS TO REPORT CRIMES AND SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITIES
The government intelligence agencies can check crime by using a dedicated short code to which the masses can send short messages to report criminal activities happening in their environment or to report suspicious movements and actions happening around them.
As a necessity, the shortcode should be very easy to remember and easy to use. For the agency hosting the service to be able to locate the place where the crime or suspicious activity is going on, the codes might even be made different depending on the places. Or instead, the command sent by the person reporting such will include the location of the individual.
The government agency needs just route the messages in a way in which it gets to the nearest security agents closest to the area of reported ongoing criminal activities, and such ones can intervene immediately.
What the agency needs to do is just get a bulk SMS platform, get a unique shortcode and people can start reaching them through this means. The bulk SMS service allows the agency to have an equal follow-up on those making such reports and the two-way communication can be there.
Interestingly, this arrangement is already in place in some countries and even African countries at that, and it is proving to be very effective in controlling crime and ensuring safety and security in the country.
With a provision like this, people can get instant help whenever they are in any form of danger in their environment, and also when the evil perpetrators know they have nowhere to hide, it will go a long way in reducing criminal activities.
Noteworthy is the fact that some other agencies in Nigeria are equally making good use of SMS shortcodes to good effects, like the NAFDAC’s SMS shortcode for detecting fake drugs. It has a great success story and so will this if fully utilized.
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