The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mohammed Adamu will host West African Police and Security Chiefs in Abuja, Nigeria’s Federal Capital Territory, from May 14 to 16, under the auspices of WAPCCO to address security challenges in Africa.
The meeting is coming as part of the ongoing efforts at galvanizing multinational efforts towards finding a lasting solution to transnational crimes, especially terrorism, violent extremism, kidnapping, illicit circulation of small arms and light weapons, human trafficking, maritime security, herders and farmers’ conflict amongst others.
According to statement by the Force spokesman, Frank Mba, the event will be attended by the INTERPOL Secretary General, representatives of African Union Mechanism for Police Cooperation (AFRIPOL), members of the Institute for Security Studies (ISS) in South Africa and representatives from Committee of Chiefs of Police from Central Africa among other key Security Stakeholders.
The statement said that the meeting will present an opportunity for all Security Chiefs across West Africa to re- commit themselves to collaborate more effectively towards tackling trans-border crimes and other regional security threats in an increasingly globalized world.
The West African Police Chiefs Committee (WAPCCO) is a structure under ECOWAS designed to bring together Heads of Police of ECOWAS Member States to exchange and share intelligence and collaborate with one another in the fight against criminality and Security threats in West Africa.
WAPCCO’s areas of interest include the tackling of illicit trade on drugs, enforcement of immigration laws, policing of marine space, customs activities, and financial intelligence amongst others.