IGP ORDERS POLICE TO REFER TERROR FINANCING CASES TO SPECIALISED UNITS
Read Time:2 Minute, 2 Second
By: Balogun Ibrahim
The Inspector-General of Police, Tunji Disu, has directed police officers across the country to refer cases involving terrorism financing, banditry and other financial crimes to specialised investigative units as part of efforts to strengthen intelligence-led policing.
Disu gave the directive on Tuesday during a meeting with the leadership of the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) at the Force Headquarters in Abuja.
He said the move was prompted by the evolving nature of crime, noting that criminal networks increasingly rely on cross-border financial transactions and money laundering to sustain their activities.
According to the IGP, financial intelligence has become essential in tackling modern crime, stressing that stronger collaboration between the Nigeria Police Force and the NFIU is critical to combating terrorism, banditry, crude oil theft and other forms of organised crime.
READ MORE…
He explained that tracking the proceeds of crime would significantly improve investigations and reduce criminal activities, adding that following illicit financial flows could help solve a large percentage of such offences.
Disu also disclosed that the Nigeria Police Force has established a dedicated Proceeds of Crime Section, headed by a Deputy Commissioner of Police with expertise in financial crime, to strengthen anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing efforts.
He said all officers had been instructed to forward relevant cases involving terror financing, banditry and suspicious financial transactions to the specialised unit for proper investigation.
The police chief noted that the new section had enhanced the Force’s role in Nigeria’s anti-money laundering framework and improved its contribution to financial crime investigations.
Disu further appealed to the NFIU to provide more training opportunities for police personnel in financial intelligence, asset tracing and tracking illicit financial transactions, stressing that intelligence sharing and capacity building were key to addressing financial crimes.
Earlier, NFIU Chief Executive Officer Hafsat Bakari described the Nigeria Police Force as a vital partner in the country’s fight against money laundering and terrorism financing.
She said financial intelligence plays a crucial role in investigating offences such as terrorism financing, kidnapping, cybercrime, corruption, human trafficking, narcotics trafficking, illegal mining, arms trafficking and organised crime.
Bakari also commended the Police Force for its contribution to Nigeria’s removal from the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) grey list and pledged continued support through intelligence sharing, operational assistance and capacity development ahead of the country’s 2027 mutual evaluation.
Happy
0 %
Sad
0 %
Excited
0 %
Sleepy
0 %
Angry
0 %
Surprise
0 %
0
0