Police chiefs, senior law enforcement executives, and continental security stakeholders are currently at Algiers, Algeria, for a two-day summit.
The summit known as the 13th Meeting of the AFRIPOL Steering Committee, will take place on Monday, July 7 to Tuesday, 8, 2025.
The Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, is one of the participants in the event aimed at addressing the growing complexities of terrorism, organized crime and violent extremism across Africa.
The IGP is attending in his dual capacity as Nigeria’s Chief of Police and the current Chairperson of the West African Police Chiefs Committee (WAPCCO), reaffirming Nigeria’s leadership in continental security cooperation and regional threat mitigation.
The two-day session features critical briefings, including a report on the current situation of Transnational Organized Crime (TOC) across the continent; updates on the deployment and operationalization of the AFSECOM communication system, and progress on the development of AFRIPOL’s strategies on Counter-Terrorism (CT) and TOC.
It also covers presentations on the ongoing AFRIPOL reform process, including engagements with AU policy organs and Member States, and outlines preparations for the upcoming 14th Steering Committee Meeting and 5th AFRIPOL General Assembly.
Also Read: Coalition: ‘Don’t Fight, Insult, or Attack Anyone’ – Aregbesola to Supporters
Egbetokun reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to dismantling criminal networks by advancing collaborative law enforcement strategies, intelligence sharing, and joint security operations. He emphasised the importance of modern technology, integrated communication platforms, and interagency task forces as pivotal to responding to cross-border threats.
The IGP also called for deeper legal harmonization, improved officer training, and enhanced regional interoperability to effectively combat terrorism, cybercrime, trafficking, and organized criminal networks.
He reiterated that the battle against TOC cannot be won in isolation, but through unified purpose, coordinated action, and strategic cooperation.
According to him, “the Nigeria Police Force remains committed to supporting AFRIPOL’s mission and will continue to work with regional and international partners to promote peace, safety, and a secure Africa.”
The IGP restated the force’s resolve to “actively contribute to multilateral efforts aimed at safeguarding communities and reinforcing Africa’s collective security infrastructure.”
Amongst the attendees at the meeting are the Algerian Director-General of National Security, Ali Badaoui; members of the Central African Police Chiefs Committee (CAPCCO); members of the Eastern Africa Police Chiefs Cooperation (EAPCCO) and other regional police organizations as well as other Chiefs of Police.
