IGP Highlights Arms Trafficking Disruption as Key Election Safeguard

The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Disu, identified disrupting illicit arms trafficking across national borders as critical for securing Nigeria’s 2027 general elections. This claim was made during the Small Arms and Light Weapons Identification and Tracing (SALW-IT) Simulation Programme launch in Abuja on October 13, 2026, which ran from October 12 to 16, 2026.

The programme unites law enforcement from 12 African nations to enhance their ability to identify, mark, register, and trace small arms, light weapons, and ammunition. IGP Disu emphasized that illicit firearms threaten Nigeria’s electoral process by enabling voter intimidation, political opponent harassment, polling disruptions, and attacks on electoral personnel and materials.

continued movement through porous borders and established trafficking routes risks undermining election security efforts, stressing that no country can address the issue alone.