The Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Rilwan Disu, has stepped up efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s security architecture through expanded international cooperation involving Nigeria, the United States and Italy, with a proposed specialised training programme for 5,000 police personnel.
The initiative is expected to improve the operational capacity of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), particularly in tackling terrorism, kidnapping, arms trafficking and other security challenges through intelligence-driven policing, advanced technology and professional training.
Disu announced the development during his working visit to Italy, where he held discussions with Italian law enforcement authorities on areas of cooperation, including counter-insurgency operations, intelligence gathering and institutional capacity building.
A major highlight of the engagement was an offer to train up to 5,000 Nigerian police officers, with particular attention to counter-insurgency operations and security challenges in difficult rural and forest environments.
The proposed programme will cover tactical operations, intelligence-based patrols, protection of critical infrastructure, digital and scientific forensics, cybercrime investigation, explosives detection, financial investigations, asset tracing and anti-extortion strategies.
The training is also expected to accommodate personnel beyond the Police Mobile Force (PMF), including officers serving in other specialised tactical, explosive ordnance disposal and forensic units.
At a meeting with the Commander General of the Italian Carabinieri, Lieutenant-General Salvatore Luongo, the IGP explored opportunities for technical support, professional training and broader institutional collaboration.
The Nigerian delegation also visited the Carabinieri Centre of Excellence for Stability Police Units (CoESPU) in Vicenza, where it examined available training facilities and discussed how Italy's expertise could be adapted to address Nigeria's security requirements.
Among the proposals considered were specialised command training for 40 senior police officers, leadership development programmes for 100 junior commanders and the deployment of a mobile assistance team to strengthen training at PMF institutions in Gwoza and Ila-Orangun.
The discussions further addressed the development of a national stability policing doctrine and standard operating procedures to promote uniform operational standards, professionalism and respect for civilian protection, especially in communities recovering from conflict.
Other areas identified for possible collaboration include canine operations, forensic science and mounted policing, with discussions extending to horse breeding and the development of local capacity for public order management and other relevant policing responsibilities.
To translate the proposals into concrete programmes, Disu called for a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) covering specialised training, technology transfer and operational doctrine.
He also invited a technical assessment team from the Italian Carabinieri to Abuja to evaluate the Force's requirements and establish practical implementation plans.
The IGP reiterated the Nigeria Police Force's commitment to international partnerships that enhance operational effectiveness, strengthen investigative capacity and improve the protection of lives and property.
The Force said it would continue engaging relevant international partners to advance the proposed initiatives in accordance with Nigeria's security priorities and its drive to build a more professional, responsive and capable police institution.
The Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Ani Iniedu, disclosed this in a statement issued on Friday, October 30, 2026, in Abuja.
