Forensic Research & Technology

DNA fingerprinting is a laboratory technique used to establish link between biological evidence and a suspect in a criminal investigation. A DNA sample taken from a crime scene is compared with a DNA sample from a suspect. Because nearly every cell in a person’s body contains the same complete set of DNA, the DNA isolated from dried blood, semen or even a hair found at a crime or suicide bombing scene can be compared to a DNA sample earlier collected from the suspect and can prove who the criminal is just the same as the fi ngerprint of the suspect. Borno state of recent has witnessed an infl ux of Boko Haram returnees from neighboring countries like Cameroun Chad and Niger. Th ere has been increase in the spate of suicide bombings in the IDP camps scattered in various locations in Borno state. Because of the diffi culty of ascertaining those responsible for the bombings, DNA profi ling of all the residence in all the camps will help in identifying those responsible for the bombings through DNA fi ngerprinting. Th is paper will examine the methods of collection of blood samples and profi ling of the residence of the IDP camps using DNA fingerprinting with the view of profi ling their blood samples for future use. In a situation where there are suicide bombings, blood samples at the scene when fetched will undergo screening using DNA fi ngerprinting and through matching with the existing profi le, the culprit can easily be identified. Th e paper will also look at the possibilities of extending this to larger societies especially the returnees from Libya and other countries linked with terrorism.