By Nkechi Eze
The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Disu, has called for deeper collaboration among West African law enforcement agencies to effectively combat transnational crimes threatening the region’s security and stability.
Speaking on Monday at the 11th Meeting of Heads of INTERPOL National Central Bureaus (NCBs) for West Africa held at Johnwood Hotel, Abuja, the IGP emphasized that criminal networks operating across the sub-region can only be defeated through coordinated action and intelligence sharing among member states.
The high-level gathering brought together heads of INTERPOL National Central Bureaus from sixteen West African countries, alongside senior representatives of the INTERPOL General Secretariat and regional security organizations.
In his address, IGP Disu highlighted the growing threat posed by human trafficking syndicates, arms smugglers, drug cartels, cybercriminals, money launderers, terrorist financiers, and violent extremist groups, noting that such criminal enterprises operate across borders and exploit gaps in regional security cooperation.
“The success of our collective efforts depends not on the actions of any single nation, but on the strength, speed, and quality of the partnerships we build across our region,” he said.
The police chief outlined measures already being implemented by Nigeria to strengthen regional policing efforts, including the expansion of INTERPOL’s I-24/7 secure communications network to border control points and law enforcement institutions nationwide. According to him, the initiative is designed to ensure that officers operating at border crossings have immediate access to critical intelligence and international policing resources.
IGP Disu also reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to Project GEMINI, an initiative focused on the systematic uploading and verification of INTERPOL’s Stolen and Lost Travel Documents database. He further cited the West African Police Information System (WAPIS) as a successful example of regional data integration and cooperation in tackling cross-border crime.
Looking ahead, the Inspector-General identified three key priorities for enhancing regional security cooperation. These include ensuring universal access to INTERPOL’s databases across West Africa’s border security architecture, establishing mechanisms for rapid joint operations among member states, and strengthening trust and transparency among National Central Bureaus to facilitate timely and effective intelligence sharing.
He stressed that even the most advanced technological systems would be ineffective without mutual trust among participating agencies.
Also speaking at the meeting, the leader of the INTERPOL delegation commended Nigeria for hosting the event and described the attendance of all sixteen NCB heads as a strong demonstration of regional commitment to collective security.
The delegation leader urged participants to move beyond declarations of intent and embrace measurable commitments capable of delivering tangible security outcomes. He also encouraged member agencies to adopt proactive approaches that focus on anticipating and disrupting criminal activities before they occur rather than merely responding after the damage has been done.
The meeting underscored Nigeria’s strategic role in advancing regional security cooperation and highlighted the commitment of the Nigeria Police Force to strengthening international partnerships in the fight against transnational crime.
The 11th Meeting of Heads of INTERPOL National Central Bureaus concluded with renewed calls for greater cooperation, intelligence sharing, and coordinated action among West African nations as they confront evolving security threats across the sub-region.
