Isiyaku Ahmed
The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu, has advanced efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s internal security through a proposed trilateral cooperation framework involving Nigeria, the United States and Italy.
The initiative focuses on specialized police training, counter-insurgency operations, intelligence gathering, technology transfer and institutional development to tackle terrorism, kidnapping, arms trafficking and other security threats.
The Force spokesperson, CSP Ani Iniedu, disclosed this in a statement issued on Friday following Disu’s working visit to Italy.
According to the statement, a major outcome of the engagement was an offer to provide specialized training for up to 5,000 Nigerian police personnel, with priority given to counter-insurgency operations and security challenges in rural and forested areas.
The proposed training would cover tactical operations, intelligence-led patrols, critical infrastructure protection, digital and scientific forensics, cybercrime, explosives detection, financial investigations, asset tracing and anti-extortion techniques.
It would also extend beyond the Police Mobile Force (PMF) to include other specialised units, such as explosive ordnance disposal and forensic teams.
During the visit, Disu met with the Commander General of the Italian Carabinieri, Lieutenant-General Salvatore Luongo, to discuss technical assistance, capacity development and institutional cooperation.
At the Carabinieri Centre of Excellence for Stability Police Units (CoESPU) in Vicenza, the Nigerian delegation assessed training facilities and explored opportunities to adapt specialised programs to the country’s security needs.
The proposed initiatives include command courses for 40 senior police officers, leadership training for 100 junior commanders and the deployment of a mobile assistance team to support Police Mobile Force training schools in Gwoza and Ila-Orangun.
The delegation also sought assistance in developing a national stability policing doctrine and standard operating procedures to improve operational consistency, professional standards and civilian protection, particularly in communities recovering from conflict.
Other areas discussed included canine operations, forensic science and mounted policing, with emphasis on horse breeding and local capacity development for public order management and other appropriate police duties.
To formalize the proposed cooperation, Disu called for a memorandum of understanding covering training, technology transfer and operational doctrine.
He also invited a Carabinieri assessment team to Abuja to identify priority areas and develop practical arrangements for implementing the proposed initiatives.
The IGP reaffirmed the Nigeria Police Force’s commitment to international partnerships aimed at improving operational readiness, strengthening investigative capacity and enhancing the protection of lives and property.
He said the Force would continue engaging relevant international partners to advance initiatives that align with Nigeria’s security priorities and build a more capable, professional and responsive police institution.
