The Inspector-General of Police, IGP, Olatunji Disu has met with the Secretary General of the International Criminal Police Organisation (INTERPOL), Valdecy Urquiza, in Lyon, France, as Nigeria moves to strengthen international cooperation against transnational crime.
Disu, who paid his maiden official visit to the INTERPOL General Secretariat since assuming office as IGP, held discussions with Urquiza and other senior officials on ways to enhance intelligence sharing and cross-border policing.
The meeting focused on cybercrime, counter-terrorism, financial crimes, organised crime, fugitive tracking and the effective use of INTERPOL databases and policing tools.
The two sides also reviewed Nigeria’s participation in INTERPOL-supported initiatives and explored opportunities for greater technical and operational cooperation.
According to a statement issued by the Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Ani Iniedu, the engagement was aimed at strengthening criminal intelligence analysis, cross-border investigations and efforts to disrupt transnational criminal networks.
Iniedu said the Nigerian delegation also discussed measures to leverage INTERPOL’s global policing capabilities in tackling evolving security threats.
Disu was accompanied on the visit by AIG Olaolu Adegbite, Head of INTERPOL Nigeria and National Central Bureau, Abuja; AIG Ezima Akaninyene Ifem, Director, Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Centre; AIG Akoh Benedict Gabriel, Head, Nigeria Police Counter Terrorism Unit; and CP Ojajuni Olubode, INTERPOL Africa Committee member.
The visit underscored the Nigeria Police Force’s renewed emphasis on international partnerships in combating crimes that transcend national borders.
The Force said it remained committed to deepening cooperation with INTERPOL and other international law-enforcement agencies through intelligence, technology and coordinated policing operations.
It added that such collaboration would help deny criminal networks the ability to exploit international borders to evade arrest and prosecution.
