By Nkechi Eze
The Kwara State Police Command has agreed to strengthen ties with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC in the interest of the anti-corruption fight in the state. Following suit is the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, and the Department of State Services, DSSin the state.
According to an official signed statement by the commission’s spokesperson Dele Oyewale, the agreement was reached on Tuesday, April 29, 2025 as the Director, Ilorin Zonal Directorate of the EFCC, Daniel Isei, visited the Kwara Commands of the respective law enforcement agencies on a familiarization tour.
The tour which also aims at strengthening inter-agency collaboration and fostering more effective synergy in intelligence sharing is part of a broader strategy of the newly-appointed EFCC Zonal Director in combating corruption, economic and financial crimes in the zone.
At the office of the Commissioner of Police, Kwara State Command, CP Adekimi Ojo, Isei, emphasized the importance of inter-agency collaboration in the fight against corruption, noting that the EFCC and the Nigeria Police Force have a long standing history of collaboration in law enforcement and enthronement of accountability. “Synergy between government agencies is not only vital but indispensable in confronting corruption and other financial crimes head-on. As the new Zonal Director of the EFCC in Ilorin, I look forward to deepening this collaboration, particularly in the areas of intelligence sharing, joint operations, and capacity building. I have no doubt that with sustained cooperation, we will achieve even greater milestones in our collective mandate to rid thesociety of economic crimes,” he said.
Ojo on his part commended EFCC’s efforts in the anti-corruption fight and urged all Nigerians to support the Commission and work in unity with other law enforcement agencies to ensure a corruption-free and more secure nation.
“All security agencies, including the EFCC and the Nigeria Police Force, are children of the same parents. We share a common goal to make our country safer and better for everyone,” he said.
At the office of the State Commandant of NSCDC, Dr. J. G Umar Muhammed, Isei reaffirmed EFCC’s commitment to institutional cooperation with the Corps. He noted that, “the NSCDC plays a vital role in protecting critical national assets and infrastructure, a function that intersects with our own mission to safeguard Nigeria’s financial systems and public trust.”
In the area of illegal mining in the state, Isei called for increased joint efforts in addressing the scourge and urged the Commandant to support the EFCC by sharing intelligence and deploying his personnel strategically in the combat of illegal mining. He commended the Corps for assisting the Commission in securing recovered assets.
In his response, Commandant Muhammed lauded EFCC’s achievements in the anti-corruption fight and assured the Commission of the Corps’ continued support, especially in tracking suspects and enhancing field-level intelligence cooperation and urged the Commission to beam its searchlight on the activities of Point-of-Sale (PoS) operators, some of whom he alleged have been involved in aiding kidnappers by processing ransom payments.
Isei at the office of the Kwara State Director of the DSS, Michael Oganwu, reiterated the importance of seamless intelligence sharing between the two agencies.
“I am here to reaffirm the EFCC’s commitment to working closely with your esteemed office. We deeply value the strong partnership between our agencies and look forward to building even stronger synergies in intelligence sharing, joint operations, and capacity building. Together, we can make a lasting impact in curbing corruption and upholding the rule of law in our society,” he said.
Oganwu in his remarks assured Isei of the DSS’s continued cooperation and emphasized the importance of unified efforts among security agencies in creating a crime-free and secure society.
