IGP to W’African police chiefs: Collaboration needed to tackle complex security challenges

Kayode Egbetokun, the inspector-general of police (IGP), has urged West African police chiefs to collaborate and devise innovative ways to deal with complex security problems facing the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). 

Speaking during a meeting of the West African Police Chiefs Committee (WAPCCO) and technical sub-committee on training and operations in Abuja, Egbetokun said the security problems include banditry, illicit drugs and human trafficking, cross border robberies, cybercrime, terrorism and others.

“Our security reality continually deepens the need to commit to regional collaboration towards dissecting the pattern and trend of crimes on the one hand, and towards pulling together and supporting each other in bridging our national security gaps,” the IGP said.

“The situation calls for a collective review of various legal framework and regulates law enforcement and criminal justice delivery system.

“It also calls for a stronger operational partnership that will encourage the evolution of workable protocol that will engender stronger operational integration amongst security forces and border management agencies within the sub-region.”

Abdel-Fatah Musah, ECOWAS commissioner for political affairs, peace and security, represented by Abdourahmane Dieng, permanent secretary, WAPCCO, said: “With the dynamic availability and capacity of cyberspace which transcends geographical borders, criminality has become more efficient, faster and safer for criminals to execute.

“Therefore, our mandate is to increase our capacity on the fight against transnational border crime of all  forms which include employing training and operational strategies.”