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PHOTOS: IGP Disu secures training offer for 5,000 police officers in Italy
The Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Rilwan Disu, has advanced Nigeria’s international security cooperation with the United States and Italy, securing an offer of specialised training for up to 5,000 police personnel to strengthen the fight against terrorism and other security threats.
The proposed training, which is expected to focus on counter-insurgency and operations in difficult rural and forested terrains, formed part of the outcome of Disu’s working visit to Italy, where he engaged Italian law enforcement authorities on security cooperation, technology transfer and institutional development.
The initiative is aimed at strengthening the operational capacity of the Nigeria Police Force to tackle terrorism, kidnapping, arms trafficking and other criminal activities through intelligence-led policing and improved tactical capabilities.
According to a statement issued on Friday by the Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Ani Iniedu, the proposed training would cover tactical operations, intelligence-led patrols, protection of critical infrastructure, digital and scientific forensics, cybercrime, explosives detection, financial investigations, asset tracing and anti-extortion techniques.
The statement said the training would extend beyond the Police Mobile Force to other specialised units, including explosive ordnance disposal and forensic teams.
During the visit, Disu met with the Commander General of the Italian Carabinieri, Lieutenant-General Salvatore Luongo, to explore opportunities for technical assistance, specialised training and institutional cooperation.
The IGP and his delegation also visited the Carabinieri Centre of Excellence for Stability Police Units (CoESPU) in Vicenza, where they assessed training facilities and explored ways of adapting specialised programmes to Nigeria’s security challenges.
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 delegation also sought Italian support for the development of a national stability policing doctrine and standard operating procedures to promote professionalism, operational consistency and civilian protection, particularly in communities recovering from conflict.
Further discussions centred on possible cooperation in canine operations, forensic science and mounted policing, including horse breeding and local capacity development for public order management and other policing responsibilities.
To ensure the implementation of the proposed initiatives, Disu proposed 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 implementation strategies.
The IGP reaffirmed the commitment of the Nigeria Police Force to international partnerships that would strengthen operational readiness, improve investigative capacity and enhance the protection of lives and property.
The Force said it would continue to engage relevant international partners to advance the proposals in line with Nigeria’s security priorities and efforts to build a more professional, capable and responsive police institution.
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