The Nigeria Police Force on Thursday, June 4, 2026, commenced a two-day forensic and fraud investigation training programme for selected officers in Rivers State.
The training is designed to enhance evidence-based investigations and prosecutions, to secure more convictions in criminal cases.
Declaring the programme open, the Commissioner of Police in Rivers State, CP Olugbenga Adepoju, described the initiative as a key component of ongoing police reforms led by the Inspector-General of Police.
According to him, the reforms are focused on strengthening human capacity, improving institutional effectiveness, and modernising policing strategies to address contemporary security challenges.
“At this first phase, a total of 300 officers drawn from selected state police commands across the six geopolitical zones have been carefully selected to participate. Your selection places upon each of you a solemn responsibility to become specialists in forensic and fraud investigation,” he said.
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Adepoju urged participants to fully engage in the training, avoid distractions, and apply the knowledge gained to their daily duties, noting that improved expertise would enhance investigation outcomes and promote professionalism within the Force.
In her opening remarks, the convener of the training, HRH Dr. Pearl Chidinma Ogbulu, commended the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu, and the Police Management Team for their commitment to transforming the Nigeria Police Force.
She noted that ongoing reforms have repositioned the Force as a modern, intelligence-driven institution with global relevance, emphasising the importance of technology, capacity building, and forensic excellence.
“The future of criminal investigation lies in forensic science, digital intelligence, and evidence-based policing,” she said, urging participants to strive for excellence in the field.
Ogbulu also praised the Rivers State Commissioner of Police for facilitating the training and supporting efforts to strengthen forensic investigation capacity within the Force.
Delivering a lecture titled “Crime Scene Management and Evidence Gathering Techniques in Forensic Investigation,” guest lecturer Dr. Stacy Ann Nwodo, a specialist in forensic accounting, security, and strategy, explained that forensic investigation involves the application of scientific methods to legal matters.
She noted that the term “forensic” is derived from the Latin word forensis, meaning “belonging to the court,” and stressed that accuracy and adherence to procedure are critical in ensuring justice.
The training is expected to equip participating officers with modern investigative skills and strengthen the Nigeria Police Force’s capacity in handling forensic and fraud-related cases.
