IGP Disu calls for African collaboration to tackle arms proliferation
Inspector-General of Police Highlights Threat of Small Arms Proliferation in Africa
Abuja, Nigeria — The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Disu, emphasized the growing concern of small arms and light weapons proliferation, describing it as one of the most serious threats to peace and security across Africa. He made these remarks during the opening of the Small Arms and Light Weapons Identification and Tracing (SALW-IT) simulation program on Monday in Abuja.
Disu underscored the necessity for collaboration among African nations to enhance their capabilities in identifying, marking, registering, and tracing small arms, light weapons, and ammunition. He stated that these weapons disregard national borders and contribute to a range of issues, including terrorism, armed banditry, kidnapping, communal conflicts, and organized crime.
“The proliferation of small arms and light weapons remains one of the gravest dangers to peace and security across Africa,” Disu noted. “No country can combat this issue in isolation.”
He articulated the program’s primary focus on improving collective efforts in tracing weapons. “A weapon that cannot be traced is a dead end for any investigation,” he explained. “Identification and tracing are fundamental for accountability and intelligence, linking recovered weapons to networks and financing.”
Disu expressed satisfaction with the program’s emphasis on practical, hands-on learning through simulations, stating that theoretical knowledge must be complemented with practical experience. The simulation exercises, including indoor shooting scenarios at the Nigeria Police Simulation Centre, aim to prepare participants for real-world challenges faced by law enforcement officers.
Participants in the program represent a range of countries, including Chad, the Central African Republic, Mali, Algeria, Côte d’Ivoire, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Niger, Libya, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Republic of the Congo, and Nigeria.
The IGP reaffirmed the Nigeria Police Force’s commitment to the objectives of the program and the wider regional and continental efforts aimed at controlling the proliferation of small arms and light weapons. He pledged ongoing support to create an environment conducive to sustaining the training’s impact.
