By Odita Sunday
The Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Rilwan Disu, has stepped up efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s internal security, with a proposed international training programme targeting 5,000 police personnel under a security cooperation initiative involving Nigeria, the United States and Italy.
The proposed training, which will prioritise counter-insurgency operations and policing in difficult rural and forested terrains, is part of efforts to enhance the capacity of the Nigeria Police Force to tackle terrorism, kidnapping, arms trafficking and other security threats.
Disu disclosed this during his working visit to Italy, where he engaged Italian law enforcement authorities on specialised training, technology transfer, intelligence-led operations and institutional development.
The training programme is expected to cover tactical operations, intelligence-led patrols, critical infrastructure protection, digital and scientific forensics, cybercrime, explosives detection, financial investigations, asset tracing and anti-extortion techniques.
According to a statement issued on Friday by the Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Ani Iniedu, the proposed training will extend beyond the Police Mobile Force to other specialised units, including explosive ordnance disposal and forensic teams.
During the visit, the IGP met with the Commander General of the Italian Carabinieri, Lieutenant-General Salvatore Luongo, to explore opportunities for technical assistance, professional training and institutional cooperation.
The delegation also visited the Carabinieri Centre of Excellence for Stability Police Units (CoESPU) in Vicenza, where it assessed training facilities and explored ways to adapt specialised programmes to Nigeria’s security needs.
Among the proposals discussed were 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 Nigeria Police Force also sought Italian support for the development of a national stability policing doctrine and standard operating procedures to improve operational consistency, professional standards and civilian protection, particularly in communities recovering from conflict.
The discussions further explored cooperation in canine operations, forensic science and mounted policing, including horse breeding and local capacity development to strengthen public order management and other specialised police duties.
To ensure the implementation of the proposed initiatives, Disu proposed a memorandum of understanding covering specialised training, technology transfer and operational doctrine.
He also invited a Carabinieri assessment team to Abuja to identify priority areas and develop practical implementation arrangements.
The police chief reaffirmed the Force’s commitment to international partnerships capable of strengthening operational readiness, improving investigative capabilities and enhancing the protection of lives and property.
He said the Nigeria Police Force would continue to engage relevant international partners to advance the proposals in line with the country’s security priorities and build a more capable, professional and responsive police institution.
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