Police seek US, Italy partnership to train 5,000 personnel

The Nigeria Police Force is pursuing a trilateral security partnership with the United States and Italy to train up to 5,000 personnel in specialised operations, intelligence gathering and advanced investigative techniques.

The proposed programme is designed to strengthen the force’s capacity to tackle terrorism, kidnapping, arms trafficking, cybercrime and other security threats through specialised training, technology transfer and intelligence-led operations.

The Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Ani Iniedu, disclosed this in a statement on Friday following Inspector-General of Police Olatunji Disu’s working visit to Italy, where he held talks with Italian law enforcement authorities.

The proposed training will 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.

It will also extend beyond the Police Mobile Force to 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 discuss technical assistance, professional training and institutional cooperation.

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The police delegation also visited the Carabinieri Centre of Excellence for Stability Police Units (CoESPU) in Vicenza to assess its training facilities and explore programmes that could be adapted 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, Borno State, and Ila-Orangun, Osun State.

The discussions also covered the development of a national stability policing doctrine and standard operating procedures to improve operational consistency, professional standards and civilian protection, particularly in communities recovering from conflict.

Other areas identified for cooperation include canine operations, forensic science and mounted policing, with discussions also touching on horse breeding and local capacity development for public order management.

To formalise the proposed collaboration, Disu called for 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 arrangements for implementing the partnership.

The IGP said the police leadership remained committed to international cooperation that would improve operational readiness, strengthen investigations and enhance the protection of lives and property.

The Nigeria Police Force said engagements with international partners would continue as it seeks to advance the proposals in line with the country’s security priorities.