Enugu State Governor Peter Mbah has commissioned a Centre for DNA Forensics and Criminal Investigation, warning criminals that the state now possesses scientific capabilities to track, identify and prosecute offenders that did not previously exist.
The Centre for DNA Forensics and Criminal Investigation (CeDFoCI) was commissioned Wednesday at the Godfrey Okoye University complex in Ugwuomu, Nike, Enugu, in a strategic partnership between the Enugu State Government, Godfrey Okoye University and the Nigeria DNA Learning Centre.
The commissioning was attended by Attorney General of the Federation Prince Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, and Inspector General of Police Olatunji Disu, both of whom praised the initiative as a landmark contribution to national security and criminal justice.
Mbah described the centre as one of his administration's most important security investments and used the occasion to send an unambiguous message to criminal elements in the state.
"Every crime scene leaves a trace. And we can now track that trace and use it as evidence against you," Mbah said. "For too long, many crimes have gone unresolved because the tools did not exist to capture and prosecute you. Now they do."
He added: "Enugu is open to investors. Enugu is open to innovators. But for those who seek to undermine the peace and security of our people, the message is very simple: you can run, but you cannot hide."
Mbah also urged residents to change their behavior at crime scenes, asking them to keep a safe distance and allow trained professionals to work without contaminating evidence. "Every footprint, fingerprint, strand of hair, blood sample, or biological trace may contain crucial evidence. Once contaminated, such evidence may be lost," he said.
The centre is designed to bring forensic science into the core of Enugu's security and justice architecture.
According to its Founding Director, Prof. George Ude, CeDFoCI was established to ensure criminal investigations are guided by scientific truth, support courts with reliable forensic findings, and train law enforcement officers, forensic scientists, medical professionals and researchers in forensic genetics, informatics and molecular biology.
Mbah said the facility, though located in Enugu, would be open to security agencies, organisations and governments beyond the state's borders. "This facility may be located here, but its significance extends far beyond our borders.
It is our contribution to the quest for a justice system guided not by conjecture, but by evidence; not by suspicion, but by science," he said.
Attorney General Fagbemi said the establishment of CeDFoCI places Enugu and Nigeria on a par with advanced jurisdictions that have integrated forensic science into their security and justice systems. "This facility will significantly strengthen Nigeria's forensic science capacity.
It will equip law enforcement agencies with modern tools for criminal investigation, provide prosecutors with credible scientific evidence, assist the courts in reaching just outcomes, and improve the overall administration of criminal justice," he said.
Inspector General of Police Disu described the centre as an enormous opportunity for the Nigeria Police Force. "This Centre represents enormous opportunities to strengthen investigations into homicide, kidnapping, terrorism, armed robbery, sexual offences, human trafficking, missing persons, and other grave crimes," Disu said.
He added that the centre would also provide specialised training and professional development opportunities that would raise investigative standards across police formations nationwide.
Mbah praised President Bola Tinubu's economic reforms for enabling states to develop infrastructure at scale and commended the President's transmission of the State Police Bill to the National Assembly as a bold step toward devolving policing responsibilities to states.
The governor also highlighted the university partnership as part of a broader vision to make learning institutions active participants in solving society's challenges rather than isolating them from real-world problems.
He commended Vice Chancellor Prof. Christian Anieke and Prof. Ude for their roles in bringing the centre to life.
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