Nigeria and the European Union (EU) have reinforced their commitment to tackling transnational organized crime, intelligence sharing, and police reform as part of efforts to enhance security cooperation.
This development was highlighted on Wednesday when Minister of Police Affairs, Senator Ibrahim Gaidam, received the EU Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Ambassador Gautier Mignot, alongside a delegation of EU officials, during a courtesy visit to the ministry.
During the meeting, Nigerian authorities sought EU support for ongoing police reforms aimed at improving efficiency, accountability, and community engagement in law enforcement. Gaidam emphasized that the EU’s experience, resources, and expertise in police reform would be instrumental in strengthening Nigeria’s security architecture.
He also acknowledged the EU’s role in supporting regional security initiatives, particularly the West Africa Police Information System (WAPIS), which has enhanced intelligence coordination in the fight against transnational organized crime. Stressing the need for sustained EU funding, Gaidam reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to deepening collaboration in areas such as intelligence sharing, counter-terrorism, and cybersecurity.
Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Police Affairs, Anuma Nila, echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the necessity of enhanced cooperation to address contemporary security challenges. Nila commended the EU’s support in Nigeria’s security sector reforms, law enforcement capacity building, and efforts to combat terrorism, human trafficking, and other transnational crimes.
In response, Ambassador Mignot reiterated the EU’s commitment to working with Nigeria and ECOWAS in dismantling powerful criminal networks and upholding the rule of law, human rights, and democratic values.
Meanwhile, the National Counter-Terrorism Centre, Office of the National Security Adviser (NCTC-ONSA), has raised concerns over the increasing use of Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) by terrorists and criminal gangs, describing it as a major threat to counter-terrorism operations.
Speaking at the Counter-IED Symposium in Abuja, National Coordinator of NCTC-ONSA, Major General Adamu Laka, warned that the deployment of IEDs remained one of the most serious threats to security personnel and national stability.
“Their impact extends beyond the frontline to civilian populations, critical infrastructure such as power transmission lines, and overall national security,” Laka stated.
He noted that the ease with which IEDs can be fabricated using commercially available materials makes them a persistent and evolving challenge. Laka emphasized that the symposium provided a vital platform for security experts to develop innovative strategies for preventing, detecting, and responding to IED threats.
Commissioner of Police (CP) Patrick Atayero, head of the police anti-bomb squad, also highlighted the devastating impact of IEDs, noting that they had become the weapon of choice for terrorists, insurgents, and criminal elements targeting civilians, security forces, and key infrastructure.
In a related development, the Senate has directed security agencies to take immediate action to restore peace in Gyaruwa community, Gwer-West Local Government Area of Benue State, following a violent protest by youths against persistent bandit attacks.
The lawmakers also urged the Benue State government to strictly enforce the open grazing prohibition and ranching law to curb herders’ activities linked to rising insecurity in the region.
The resolution followed a motion by Senator Titus Zam (Benue North-West), whose house was torched during the protest. Zam, who chairs the Senate Committee on Rules and Business, expressed concerns over recurrent attacks by bandits disguised as herders.
Supporting the motion, Minority Leader Abba Moro lamented that frustration over insecurity was pushing residents to attack elected representatives. Senate President Godswill Akpabio sympathized with the victims and mandated Senate Committees on National Intelligence, Army, Navy, and Defence to visit the affected community for an on-the-ground assessment.
He also revealed that the Senate would soon engage security chiefs to address rising insecurity across the country.
Meanwhile, operatives of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command have killed a notorious bandit kingpin, Salisu Mohammed, alias “Dogo Saleh,” during a high-stakes counter-kidnapping operation.
According to a statement by the command’s spokesperson, Superintendent of Police Josephine Adeh, the operation was part of an intensified effort to dismantle a syndicate responsible for violent crimes along the Kaduna-Lokoja-Enugu highway and within the FCT.
She disclosed that Mohammed was tracked and arrested on March 3 in Gidan Abe Forest while attempting to enter Bwari Area Council, FCT. However, during a follow-up operation on March 4.
