DG Morgan Hosts ISFSN Annual Conference, Advocates Cyber-Forensic Solutions to Rising Digital Criminality
By Genesis Ogiri
Abuja, Nigeria — As digital crime continues to outpace traditional law-enforcement methods, the Director General of the Institute of Security and Forensic Studies Nigeria (ISFSN), Dr. (Amb.) Okocha M. Morgan, has underscored the indispensable role of digital forensic studies in preventing, detecting, and prosecuting cyber-enabled crimes.
Dr. Morgan made this assertion on Wednesday while hosting the 18th Annual Conference of ISFSN at the illustrious National Merit Award House, Abuja, where leading voices in security, intelligence, forensic science, and cybersecurity converged to interrogate Nigeria’s preparedness for the realities of digital criminality.
The conference, which drew forensic experts, intelligence practitioners, cybersecurity professionals, legal scholars, policy strategists, and industry leaders, focused on the growing sophistication of crimes committed through digital platforms and the urgent need to strengthen forensic capacities to safeguard national security.
Speaking on the theme, “Cyber-Forensics: New Methods to Track and Analyse Online Activities,” the ISFSN Director General described digital forensic studies as the frontline defence against modern crime, noting that criminals now operate through encrypted communications, anonymous online identities, dark-web networks, and complex digital trails that demand specialised investigative expertise.
According to him, without robust cyber-forensic knowledge, crimes committed in cyberspace often go undetected, unpunished, or poorly prosecuted, thereby emboldening criminal networks. He stressed that digital forensic analysis enables investigators to trace electronic footprints, reconstruct cyber events, analyse behavioural patterns, and generate legally admissible digital evidence, essential for effective prosecution.
Dr. Morgan cautioned that reliance on conventional investigative approaches alone has become inadequate, urging security agencies and institutions to embrace forensic innovation, continuous training, and technology-driven intelligence gathering to stay ahead of evolving threats.
He further called on members of the , security institutions, and the professional community to support structured capacity building, particularly through ISFSN’s specialised programmes, noting that education and skills development remain the most sustainable tools for crime prevention in a digital age.
A major highlight of the conference was the conferment of honorary doctorate degrees, United Nations Eminent Ambassador Awards, and other professional certifications on distinguished individuals, in recognition of their outstanding leadership, service, and contributions to national and global development.
Reaffirming ISFSN’s institutional vision, Dr. Morgan highlighted the Institute’s interdisciplinary mandate, which spans security and forensic studies, aviation and aerospace information management, detective investigation and legal studies, as well as oil and gas exploration technology—an integrated framework he described as vital for protecting Nigeria’s strategic interests in an increasingly digitised world.
Participants at the conference commended ISFSN for eighteen years of consistent leadership in forensic education and intelligence capacity building, describing the annual gathering as a critical platform for professional exchange, policy dialogue, and forward-thinking solutions to emerging security challenges.
The conference concluded with strong calls for investment in digital forensic infrastructure, enhanced inter-agency collaboration, and policy-driven support for cybersecurity education, reinforcing the collective resolve to leverage forensic science as a powerful deterrent against digital crime and a cornerstone of Nigeria’s national security framework.
