IGP Disu Leads West African Security Chiefs, Pushes Stronger Regional Alliance Against Cross-Border Crime

By Pan Afric Reporters

The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu, has called for a stronger and more coordinated West African response to the growing threat of transnational crime, stressing that criminal networks operating across the region can only be defeated through enhanced intelligence sharing, trust, and collective action among member states.

The call was made during the 11th Meeting of Heads of INTERPOL National Central Bureaus (NCBs) for West Africa, held in Abuja on Monday, where security chiefs from 16 West African countries gathered to deepen regional cooperation against emerging security threats.

The position was contained in a statement issued by the Nigeria Police Force and signed by the Force Public Relations Officer, DCP Anthony Okon Placid, on behalf of the Inspector-General of Police.

Addressing participants at the meeting hosted at Johnwood Hotel, Abuja, IGP Disu painted a stark picture of the security challenges confronting the sub-region, warning that human trafficking syndicates, arms traffickers, drug cartels, cybercriminals, money launderers, terrorist financiers and violent extremist groups continue to exploit porous borders and weak regional coordination.

“The success of our region does not depend on the efforts of any single country. It depends on the strength, speed and quality of the partnerships we build across all sixteen member states,” the IGP declared.

He emphasized that criminal organizations operate without regard for national boundaries, making regional collaboration an indispensable tool in combating insecurity across West Africa.

Nigeria Expands Access to INTERPOL Intelligence Systems

Highlighting Nigeria’s contributions to regional security, Disu disclosed that the country is extending INTERPOL’s I-24/7 secure communications network to border control points and law enforcement institutions nationwide.

According to him, the initiative will ensure that officers stationed at remote border crossings have the same real-time access to critical intelligence as personnel at national headquarters.

The police chief also reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to Project GEMINI, an INTERPOL initiative focused on the systematic uploading and verification of stolen and lost travel documents, describing it as a crucial tool in preventing cross-border criminal activities.

He further pointed to the West African Police Information System (WAPIS) as a practical example of how regional data integration can enhance intelligence gathering and law enforcement effectiveness.

Three-Point Security Agenda

Looking ahead, the IGP outlined three key priorities that Nigeria would champion within the region.

These include ensuring universal access to INTERPOL’s critical databases across West African border architecture, establishing rapid-response coordination mechanisms capable of facilitating joint security operations within hours rather than weeks, and strengthening trust among National Central Bureaus to encourage seamless intelligence sharing.

“Without trust and transparency among our agencies, even the most sophisticated security systems will fail to achieve their objectives,” Disu noted.

INTERPOL Commends Nigeria’s Leadership

Representatives of the INTERPOL General Secretariat commended Nigeria for hosting the meeting and acknowledged the significance of having all 16 National Central Bureau heads in attendance.

The delegation described the full participation as a powerful demonstration of the region’s collective commitment to tackling transnational crime despite operational and logistical challenges.

The INTERPOL representative urged participants to move beyond declarations and develop measurable commitments capable of producing tangible security outcomes.

“We must shift from merely reacting to crime after it occurs to anticipating and disrupting criminal activities before they cause harm,” the representative said.

Nigeria at the Centre of Regional Security Cooperation

Security experts at the meeting noted that the gathering reinforces Nigeria’s strategic role in advancing regional security cooperation and reflects the increasing recognition that modern policing requires coordinated international partnerships.

The conference concluded with renewed commitments by participating countries to strengthen intelligence exchange, enhance operational collaboration and improve regional mechanisms aimed at tackling terrorism, cybercrime, trafficking, financial crimes and other transnational threats.

Observers say the outcome of the Abuja meeting could significantly boost collective security efforts across West Africa at a time when the region faces evolving and increasingly sophisticated criminal networks.