Inspector-General of Police Olatunji Rilwan Disu has launched a regional training programme to improve arms tracing and election security in Nigeria.
The five-day exercise began in Abuja on Monday, October 12, 2026, and it aims to help security officers identify, register and trace illegal weapons and ammunition.
The programme comes as Nigeria prepares for future elections, with police seeking ways to prevent armed violence, voter intimidation and other security threats.
The Small Arms and Light Weapons Identification and Tracing (SALW-IT) Simulation Programme runs from October 12 to 16.
It combines technical lessons with practical exercises at the Nigeria Police Simulation Centre.
Participants come from 12 African countries, including Nigeria, Chad, Mali, Cameroon, Niger, Benin, and Libya.
Speaking at the opening, IGP Disu described illegal arms circulation as a major threat to peace and security across Africa.
He noted that such weapons fuel terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, and organised crime.
He explained that tracing weapons can help investigators identify trafficking networks, their financial backers and supply routes.
This information can support targeted action against illegal arms dealers.
Disu also highlighted the programme’s importance to election preparations.
He said stopping illegal arms supplies could help protect voters, electoral workers and the wider public.
The training will also support officers in police commands and formations across Nigeria.
Participants are expected to share their knowledge through further training and practical exercises.
These skills could help officers recover weapons, gather useful intelligence and support routine policing.
They may also strengthen security operations during elections.
The IGP called for closer cooperation among African countries; he stressed the need for timely intelligence sharing, joint investigations and legal assistance in tackling cross-border crimes.
The initiative brings together officers from different countries to improve their response to shared security challenges.
