Kayode Egbetokun, inspector general of police (2nd row, second from right), at the 27th INTERPOL African Regional Conference in Cape Town, South Africa
Kayode Egbetokun, the inspector-general of police (IGP), has called for stronger international collaboration to tackle the growing threats of cattle rustling and the spread of chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and explosive (CBRNE) materials across Africa.
Egbetokun made the call while presenting a paper at the 27th INTERPOL African Regional Conference in Cape Town, South Africa.
According to a statement on Thursday by Olumuyiwa Adejobi, police force spokesperson, the IGP warned that cattle rustling in West Africa is morphing from a rural challenge to a sophisticated criminal enterprise that fuels terrorism, armed groups, and cross-border criminal networks.
He also noted the nexus between cattle rustling and wider security risks, including the spread of zoonotic diseases like anthrax and brucellosis, the trafficking of radiological materials through smuggling routes, and the use of funds from livestock theft to produce improvised explosive devices (IEDs).
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“The IGP outlined six strategic pillars for response, including intelligence fusion, livestock market reforms, anti-money laundering frameworks, stronger border cooperation, community partnerships, and CBRNE preparedness,” the statement reads.
“He concluded by calling for a continent-wide and global alliance to secure Africa’s livestock trade, protect rural populations, and block extremist exploitation of regional vulnerabilities.”
On the sidelines of the conference, Egbetokun met with Ahmed Naser Al-Raisi, the president of INTERPOL, and Valdecy Urquiza, the secretary-general.
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They discussed ways to boost border security, improve access to global policing databases, enhance real-time information exchange, and strengthen efforts to disrupt terrorism financing.
Adejobi said he also met with a Brazilian delegation led by De Souza Rinaldo and Dos Reis Guedes Ferreira Alvares Andrea, with parties agreeing to deepen Nigeria–Brazil police collaboration, particularly in intelligence sharing, tackling organised crime, and building capacity to handle CBRNE-related threats.
“The Inspector-General of Police reaffirms Nigeria’s commitment to leading from the front, sharing best practices, and working collaboratively with its regional and international partners to ensure peace, security, and resilience in Africa and beyond,” the statement added.
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