IGP Calls for Global Action to Curb Cattle Rustling, Contain CBRNE Threats in Africa
By Erewunmi Peace
Nigeria’s Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, has urged the global community to take urgent, collaborative action to combat the growing threats of cattle rustling and the proliferation of CBRNE materials (Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, and Explosive) across Africa.
Egbetokun made this call during his keynote address at the 27th INTERPOL African Regional Conference, held in Cape Town, South Africa, where he warned that cattle rustling has evolved from a rural nuisance into a sophisticated criminal enterprise that now fuels terrorism, arms trafficking, and other transnational crimes.
“Cattle rustling is no longer a local problem; it is now linked to organized crime, terrorism financing, and CBRNE risks. We need global intelligence-sharing and coordinated action to tackle this menace,” the IGP emphasized.
CBRNE Threats Pose Serious Risks
The police chief warned that livestock rustling creates vulnerabilities for zoonotic disease outbreaks such as anthrax and brucellosis, while the same smuggling routes are exploited for the trafficking of radiological and explosive materials, posing significant national and regional security risks.
Six-Point Strategy to Address the Threat
To address these challenges, Egbetokun proposed a six-point strategy, including:
- Enhanced intelligence fusion and data sharing
- Reforms in livestock trade and market regulations
- Robust anti-money laundering mechanisms
- Strengthened cross-border security cooperation
- Community engagement for grassroots policing
- Comprehensive CBRNE preparedness and response systems
High-Level Meetings with INTERPOL and Global Partners
On the sidelines of the conference, the IGP met with INTERPOL President Maj. Gen. Dr. Ahmed Naser Al-Raisi, Secretary-General Valdecy Urquiza, and security delegations from Brazil and other partner nations to discuss joint operations, intelligence exchange, and capacity-building programs aimed at neutralizing cattle rustling networks and preventing CBRNE terrorism.
Global Security Stakeholders Respond
International security experts at the conference agreed that tackling these threats requires regional collaboration, technology-driven policing, and global policy frameworks to stop criminal syndicates exploiting weak borders and unregulated trade corridors.
