Police Train Officers on Preventing Radicalization, Recruitment of Children by Armed Groups
The Nigeria Police Force has concluded a week-long pre-deployment training aimed at equipping officers with modern strategies to prevent the recruitment and use of children in armed conflict.
The programme, held at the Peacekeeping Hall of the Force Headquarters in Abuja, was declared open by the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, PhD, NPM. The IGP was represented by the Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of Training and Development, AIG Aminu Baba Raji.
Organized in partnership with the Dallaire Institute for Children, Peace and Security, the session featured international experts alongside certified Nigeria Police trainers. The training focused on enabling officers to detect and prevent the recruitment of children by armed groups, while also reinforcing the understanding that such children are victims who must be treated with empathy, confidentiality, and protection.
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In his remarks, IGP Egbetokun noted that children remain the most vulnerable in violent environments, stressing that their exploitation as fighters, spies, or in other roles constitutes a grave violation of rights and poses a danger to national security. He urged officers deployed in conflict-prone areas to adopt professional, sensitive, and gender-responsive approaches when handling child-protection issues.
The initiative further strengthened existing child-protection programmes within the Force, including the Safer Schools Programme and the Police Campaign Against Cultism and Other Vices (POCACOV). At the end of the exercise, 25 officers were certified and deemed ready for deployment to conflict-affected regions.
The IGP expressed appreciation to the Dallaire Institute and other partners for their support, reaffirming the commitment of the Police Force to safeguarding human rights and enhancing its child-protection capacity through continuous training and collaboration.
The statement was issued by CSP Benjamin Hundeyin, Force Public Relations Officer, on December 9, 2025.
By PRNigeria
