The Nigeria Police Force has initiated a strategic collaboration with the United Nations to strengthen national and regional efforts aimed at curbing the proliferation of small arms and light weapons in the country.
The initiative was disclosed on Thursday during a high-level meeting between the Inspector-General of Police, Dr. Kayode Egbetokun, and a delegation from the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Africa (UNREC) and Nigeria’s National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (NCCSALW), held at the Force Headquarters in Abuja.
According to the Force Public Relations Officer, DCP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, the meeting focused on improving intelligence sharing, enhancing inter-agency coordination, and intensifying disarmament efforts to address the persistent security challenge posed by illicit weapons.
Led by Adedeji Ebo, the UN delegation included Mr. Anselme Yabouri, Director of UNREC; Grub Nolwenn, a UNREC official; AIG Thomas Nebhon; and Lt. Col. O.N. Okon of the NCCSALW. Also in attendance were all Deputy Inspectors-General of Police and members of the Force Management Team.
Deliberations centred on tightening inter-agency collaboration and establishing robust mechanisms for tracking and stemming the flow of illegal arms across Nigeria’s borders. The UN officials praised the police for their proactive efforts in disrupting arms trafficking networks, particularly in areas plagued by violence, terrorism, and organised crime.
The delegation emphasized the importance of a multi-stakeholder approach that combines law enforcement, intelligence gathering, and disarmament to effectively tackle arms proliferation and its destabilising impact on internal security.
In response, IGP Egbetokun expressed gratitude for the support of the international community and Nigeria’s Office of the National Security Adviser. He affirmed the Police Force’s resolve to clamp down on arms traffickers.
“The flow of illicit weapons remains one of the most serious threats to our national security,” Egbetokun said. “We have recovered thousands of illegal arms and ammunition across the country and will continue to partner with both domestic and international agencies to dismantle criminal arms smuggling networks.”
The IGP further assured the delegation that the Nigeria Police under his leadership would deepen global partnerships, maintain intelligence-led operations, and expand efforts in arms recovery. He stressed that such collaborations are vital to achieving sustainable peace and security in Nigeria and the broader West African region.
