The Nigerian Police Force (NPF), in collaboration with the United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS), has trained personnel on counter-Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) operations in the North-East.

The Borno State Police Command said the seven-month training commenced on July 28, 2025 and ended on February 27, 2026 at the Maiduguri Police Headquarters.

The command’s spokesperson, Assistant Superintendent of Police Nahum Daso, disclosed in a statement that the NPF Explosive Ordnance Disposal and Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (EOD-CBRN) Training School, Maiduguri, in collaboration with UNMAS, successfully concluded a series of specialised training programmes over the period.

He said the counter-IED training was coordinated by the NPF EOD-CBRN Command in partnership with UNMAS as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen counter-IED and explosive hazard response capacity in the North-East region.

According to Daso, the trainees were carefully selected from the NPF and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps across various states in the region.

He added that the intensive theoretical and practical training covered explosive hazard awareness, conventional munitions disposal Levels 1, 2 and 3, use of individual first aid kits, and in-situ IED disposal aimed at saving lives and property.

At the end of the programme, 15 police officers successfully completed the Improvised Explosive Device Disposal course.

Daso explained that the training comprised both theoretical and intensive practical sessions, exposing participants to International Mine Action Standards procedures, with emphasis on the identification, detection, location and mitigation of hazards, as well as the safe disposal of Explosive Remnants of War and IEDs.

During the graduation ceremony, participants conducted practical demonstrations, including IED disposal procedures, sand-modelling exercises and the use of the F-3 MineLab detector, showcasing the knowledge and skills acquired.

Dignitaries at the ceremony included the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Police EOD-CBRN, Force Headquarters, Abuja, DCP Helari Ndoma, who represented the Commissioner of Police EOD-CBRN; Chief of Mine Action Programme, UNMAS, Edwin Feigmane; Brigadier General E. E. Igoche, Police Military Coordinator; and Brigadier General A. S. Saleh, who represented the Theatre Commander, Operation Hadin Kai, Joint Task Force North-East.

Others were ACP Jawi Muhammed, representing the Commissioner of Police, Borno State Command.

In their remarks, participants were urged to uphold the highest standards of professionalism, adhere strictly to established safety protocols and apply the knowledge acquired in safeguarding lives and property. They were also encouraged to serve as force multipliers by cascading the training to other personnel within their respective formations.

The Nigeria Police Force reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening inter-agency collaboration and international partnerships in addressing explosive threats and enhancing public safety across the country.