The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu, has secured an offer from Italy to provide specialised training for up to 5,000 personnel of the Nigeria Police Force as part of efforts to strengthen the country’s security architecture and improve the capacity of officers to tackle emerging security threats.
The proposed training programme is expected to equip Nigerian police personnel with specialised operational skills in counter-insurgency, intelligence-led policing and operations in difficult rural and forested terrains, particularly as the country continues to confront security challenges, including terrorism, kidnapping, arms trafficking, cybercrime and organised criminal activities.
The development followed IGP Disu’s working visit to Italy, during which he held engagements with Italian law enforcement authorities on areas of cooperation aimed at improving the operational capacity of the Nigeria Police Force through specialised training, technology transfer, intelligence sharing and institutional development.
According to an official statement signed by the Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Ani Iniedu, the offer to train up to 5,000 Nigerian police personnel was one of the major outcomes of the discussions, with particular emphasis on strengthening the ability of officers to respond to insurgency and security threats in challenging geographical environments.
The proposed training will cover several critical areas of modern policing, including tactical operations, intelligence-led patrols, protection of critical infrastructure, digital and scientific forensics, cybercrime investigation, explosives detection, financial investigations, asset tracing and anti-extortion techniques.
The programme is also expected to extend beyond the Police Mobile Force to accommodate other specialised units of the Nigeria Police Force, including explosive ordnance disposal and forensic teams, in a move aimed at strengthening the Force’s ability to respond to different categories of security threats.
During the visit, IGP Disu held discussions with the Commander General of the Italian Carabinieri, Lieutenant-General Salvatore Luongo, focusing on opportunities for technical assistance, specialised training and institutional cooperation between Nigeria and Italy.
The engagement provided an opportunity for both sides to explore practical ways of adapting Italy’s policing expertise and operational experience to Nigeria’s security needs, particularly in areas requiring specialised tactical skills, intelligence gathering and effective management of complex security situations.
As part of the visit, the Nigerian delegation also toured the Carabinieri Centre of Excellence for Stability Police Units (CoESPU) in Vicenza, where it assessed the institution’s training facilities and explored opportunities to adapt its specialised policing programmes to the operational requirements of the Nigeria Police Force.
Discussions at the centre also examined proposals for command courses for 40 senior police officers and leadership training for 100 junior commanders. The proposals are intended to strengthen leadership capacity at different levels of the Force and improve the ability of officers to manage personnel and coordinate security operations.
Another proposal under consideration is the deployment of a mobile assistance team to support Police Mobile Force training schools in Gwoza and Ila-Orangun. The team is expected to provide technical support and strengthen specialised training programmes at the institutions.
The discussions further addressed the development of a national stability policing doctrine and standard operating procedures to promote operational consistency, professionalism and respect for civilian protection, particularly in communities recovering from conflict.
The proposed doctrine is expected to provide a common operational framework for officers, helping to establish clearer standards for the conduct of security operations and improve coordination in areas affected by violence and other security challenges.
Other areas identified for possible collaboration include canine operations, forensic science and mounted policing. The engagement also considered horse breeding and local capacity development to support public order management and other appropriate police duties.
To ensure that the proposed areas of cooperation translate into practical outcomes, IGP Disu proposed the development of a Memorandum of Understanding between the relevant institutions, covering specialised training, technology transfer and operational doctrine.
He also invited an assessment team from the Italian Carabinieri to Abuja to identify the priority needs of the Nigeria Police Force, evaluate areas requiring technical assistance and develop practical implementation arrangements in line with the country’s security requirements.
The proposed assessment is expected to provide a clearer framework for determining how the identified areas of cooperation can be implemented and sustained, while ensuring that the training and technical support are tailored to the operational realities facing Nigerian police personnel.
The Inspector-General reaffirmed the commitment of the Nigeria Police Force to strengthening international partnerships that will enhance operational readiness, improve investigative capabilities and promote more effective protection of lives and property.
The engagement forms part of broader efforts to deepen international security cooperation and build the institutional capacity of the Nigeria Police Force through modern policing methods, professional training, technology transfer and intelligence-driven operations.
With the proposed training of up to 5,000 personnel and other areas of technical cooperation under consideration, the initiative is expected to provide additional opportunities for strengthening police operations and improving the Force’s response to terrorism, kidnapping, organised crime and other evolving security threats across the country.
