IGP Olatunji Disu pledges sustained police support for the U.S.-Nigeria Joint Working Group as both countries deepen security cooperation.
Inspector-General of Police Olatunji Disu has pledged the continued commitment of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) to the U.S.-Nigeria Joint Working Group (JWG) roadmap aimed at addressing Nigeria’s designation as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC).
The Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Ani Iniedu, disclosed this in a statement issued on Thursday in Abuja.
Disu made the commitment during the second meeting of the U.S.-Nigeria Joint Working Group held in Washington, D.C., where both countries reviewed progress on the roadmap for the April-to-June 2026 reporting period and identified areas for stronger cooperation.
The Nigerian delegation included National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu, as well as the Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Interior and Defence. Service chiefs and heads of other security and law-enforcement agencies also participated in the meeting.
According to Iniedu, Disu presented the NPF’s contributions to the implementation of the JWG roadmap, highlighting sustained counter-kidnapping and anti-banditry operations, increased police presence in vulnerable communities and strengthened early-warning mechanisms.
He also highlighted measures aimed at protecting internally displaced persons (IDPs) and supporting their safe return to their communities.
The I-G said personnel from specialised police formations had been deployed to vulnerable Local Government Areas during the reporting period to reinforce public safety and deter violent extremist and criminal groups.
Disu also disclosed that the recruitment of 50,000 police constables was progressing towards the final pre-training stage, with preparations underway for comprehensive training based on an improved curriculum and international best practices.
The Inspector-General said the police contribution to the roadmap was centred on professional policing, community protection, stronger investigative capacity and support for Nigeria’s broader security and rule-of-law objectives.
He further identified community engagement as a key component of the NPF’s security strategy, noting increased collaboration with traditional rulers, religious leaders and other community stakeholders.
Disu stressed that public trust, religious tolerance and peaceful coexistence remained essential to achieving sustainable security in Nigeria.
The latest meeting builds on the first session of the U.S.-Nigeria Joint Working Group held in Abuja in January 2026 following the United States’ redesignation of Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern over religious-freedom concerns.
At that meeting, both countries agreed to strengthen cooperation on counterterrorism, law enforcement, investigative capacity, protection of vulnerable communities and religious freedom.
The second meeting comes after a July visit to Nigeria by U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Frank Garcia, who said Washington had welcomed Nigeria’s increased efforts under the JWG. He also said the August meeting in Washington would assess progress on agreed areas of cooperation.
The expanded security partnership has increasingly focused on intelligence sharing, counterterrorism operations, protection of vulnerable communities, accountability and measures to facilitate the safe return of displaced persons.
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