Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Olatunji Rilwan Disu has reaffirmed the Nigeria Police Force’s commitment to tackling illicit arms trafficking and strengthening election security through regional cooperation.
Disu made the pledge on Monday, October 12, 2026, while declaring open a five-day Small Arms and Light Weapons Identification and Tracing (SALW-IT) Simulation Programme in Abuja, scheduled to run until October 16.
The programme brings together participants from 12 African countries, including Nigeria, Chad, Cameroon, Niger, Mali, Algeria, Benin, Libya, Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, the Central African Republic and the Republic of the Congo.
It is designed to strengthen participants’ capacity to identify, mark, register and trace small arms, light weapons and ammunition through technical instruction and practical exercises at the Nigeria Police Simulation Centre.
The IGP described the proliferation of illicit arms as a major security threat across Africa, noting that it fuels terrorism, banditry, kidnapping and organised crime. He said effective weapons tracing could help investigators identify trafficking networks, financiers and supply routes.
Disu also linked the training to preparations for Nigeria’s 2027 general elections, saying efforts to disrupt illicit arms supplies would help curb electoral violence and intimidation, protect voters and electoral personnel, and support peaceful and credible polls.
He added that the skills acquired would be shared through structured training across police commands and formations to improve weapons recovery, intelligence gathering and routine policing operations.
The police chief called for stronger cooperation among African countries through timely intelligence sharing, coordinated investigations and mutual legal assistance to prevent criminals from exploiting national borders to evade justice.
He further disclosed plans for Inspectors-General of Police from West and East African countries to deliberate on common security challenges and develop strategies for tackling transnational crime.
Disu commended the African Union Mechanism for Police Cooperation (AFRIPOL), the Bonn International Centre for Conflict Studies (BICC), INTERPOL, relevant African Union bodies and experts from the German Armed Forces Verification Centre for supporting the programme.
He urged participants to exchange operational experiences and apply the knowledge gained in their respective countries, reaffirming the Force’s commitment to regional arms-control initiatives and improved public safety.
