The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, has called for urgent and concerted international cooperation to address the escalating security challenges posed by cattle rustling and its dangerous convergence with terrorism financing, as well as the spread of chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and explosive (CBRNE) threats across Africa.
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According to a statement made available to newsmen in Abuja on Thursday by the Force Public Relations Officer (FPRO), DCP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, IGP Egbetokun made the call while presenting a paper at the 27th INTERPOL African Regional Conference held in Cape Town, South Africa.
It stated that the Nigerian Police boss raised serious concerns over the transformation of cattle rustling in West Africa from a rural nuisance into a sophisticated criminal enterprise that was fueling terrorism, armed groups, and cross-border criminal networks.
He further warned of the dangerous nexus between cattle rustling and CBRNE threats, including the spread of zoonotic diseases like anthrax and brucellosis, the exploitation of smuggling routes for trafficking radiological materials, and the use of proceeds from livestock theft to fund the production of improvised explosive devices (IEDs), thereby worsening insecurity across conflict zones.
It added that the IGP outlined six strategic pillars for response, including intelligence fusion, livestock market reforms, anti-money laundering frameworks, stronger border cooperation, community partnerships, and CBRNE preparedness.
The statement further explained that the IGP called for a continent-wide and global alliance to secure Africa’s livestock trade, protect rural populations, and block extremist exploitation of regional vulnerabilities.
“On the sidelines of the conference, the IGP held strategic meetings with INTERPOL President, Major General Dr. Ahmed Naser Al-Raisi, and Secretary General Valdecy Urquiza, where discussions centred on strengthening border security, expanding access to global policing databases, enhancing real-time information exchange, and improving institutional capacity against terrorism financing,” the statement read.
It further added that the Nigeria Police boss also met with a Brazilian delegation led by De Souza Rinaldo and Dos Reis Guedes Ferreira Alvares Andrea, with both parties committing to deepen Nigeria–Brazil police cooperation through intelligence sharing, combating organised crime, and building capacity for CBRNE threat mitigation.
It said that the IGP reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to leading from the front, sharing best practices, and working collaboratively with its regional and international partners to ensure peace, security, and resilience in Africa and beyond.
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