IGP Egbetokun Urges Global Action on Cattle Rustling, Bio-Nuclear Threats in Africa
Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, has urged for urgent international cooperation to curb cattle rustling and contain the growing threats 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 held in Cape Town, South Africa. He noted that cattle rustling, once seen as a local nuisance in West Africa, has evolved into a sophisticated criminal enterprise fueling terrorism, armed groups, and cross-border criminal networks.
The police chief raised concerns over the dangerous link between cattle rustling and CBRNE threats, citing risks such as the spread of zoonotic diseases like anthrax and brucellosis, the use of smuggling routes for trafficking radiological materials, and the channeling of livestock theft proceeds into the production of improvised explosive devices (IEDs).
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To address the menace, the IGP outlined six strategic response pillars: intelligence fusion, livestock market reforms, anti-money laundering frameworks, stronger border cooperation, community partnerships, and enhanced preparedness against CBRNE threats. He emphasized the need 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 held bilateral meetings with INTERPOL President, Major General Ahmed Naser Al-Raisi, and Secretary General Valdecy Urquiza. Their discussions focused on strengthening border security, expanding access to global policing databases, boosting real-time information exchange, and improving institutional capacity to counter terrorism financing.
He also met with a Brazilian delegation led by De Souza Rinaldo and Dos Reis Guedes Ferreira Alvares Andrea, during which both parties agreed to deepen Nigeria–Brazil police cooperation in the areas of intelligence sharing, tackling organized crime, and capacity building for CBRNE threat mitigation.
Reaffirming Nigeria’s commitment, Egbetokun said the country will continue to share best practices and work with regional and international partners to ensure peace, security, and resilience across Africa and beyond.
By PRNigeria
