AI Can Detect Kidnappers Before They Strike, Says Robotics Expert

The Chief Executive Officer of Robotics and Artificial Intelligence Nigeria (RAIN), Dr. Olusola Ayoola, has said that artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics can play a transformative role in tackling Nigeria’s worsening insecurity by detecting criminal activities before they escalate.

Speaking during a telephone interview with National Focus, Dr. Ayoola explained that AI can strengthen intelligence gathering, monitor suspicious activities, improve profiling of suspects, and support security agencies with faster and smarter responses.

According to him, insecurity often develops gradually rather than occurring overnight, stressing that many young people are recruited into crime through online platforms promoting fraud, kidnapping, ritual activities, and other illegal acts.

He said AI can help monitor social media for harmful content without policing free speech, enabling authorities to identify and remove platforms that encourage criminal activities or recruit vulnerable youths.

“We have a lot going on on social media. Young people looking for jobs can easily come across pages promising quick wealth or illegal opportunities. AI can monitor such platforms and help take down pages that are creating breeding grounds for criminals,” he said.

Dr. Ayoola noted that AI can also improve intelligence gathering by analyzing economic and behavioral patterns within communities.

He explained that unusual changes, such as a sudden increase in bread sales, an unexpected surge in motorcycle traffic, or other abnormal economic activities, could indicate the presence of criminal groups operating within a locality.

According to him, AI systems can analyze these changes and alert security agencies to investigate suspicious developments before crimes occur.

The robotics expert also advocated for wider deployment of drones to monitor forests, towns, cities, and remote communities.

He said regular aerial surveillance could detect unusual human movements, illegal camps, and other suspicious activities, adding that comparing drone data collected over time would make it easier to identify emerging security threats.

Using Google traffic data as an example, Dr. Ayoola said sudden spikes in movement within certain locations could reveal unusual activities requiring further investigation.

He further called for an improved national profiling and record management system, arguing that the absence of comprehensive digital records makes it difficult for law enforcement agencies to identify wanted persons during routine stop-and-search operations.

According to him, officers often have no reliable database to verify whether individuals have criminal records or are on security watchlists.

Speaking on robotics, Dr. Ayoola said ground robots could be deployed to inspect abandoned and uncompleted buildings, which are often used as hideouts by criminal gangs.

He explained that remotely operated robotic vehicles could safely enter such locations, gather intelligence, and transmit live information back to security personnel using internet, radio frequency, or GPRS technology.

Dr. Ayoola concluded that Nigeria has yet to fully harness the enormous potential of AI and robotics in addressing insecurity, urging government agencies to invest more in emerging technologies to improve national security.