IGP introduces WMD, nuclear training into Police curriculum

In response to the growing threats posed by Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD), including Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear (CBRN) threats, the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, has collaborated with the United States Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) to develop a National Curriculum for the Nigeria Police Force’s Explosive Ordnance Disposal – Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear (EOD-CBRN) Formation.

This was disclosed in a statement released in Abuja on Wednesday by the Force Public Relations Officer (FPRO), Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Olumuyiwa Adejobi.

According to the statement, “the curriculum will encompass critical areas such as detection, investigation, interdiction, and the neutralization of these threats, equipping Police Operatives with essential knowledge and skills related to CBRN/WMD threats, thereby improving their detection and response capabilities to potential incidents.

“As part of the broader vision for capacity building within the Force, this training program will not only enhance the skills of current officers but will also be integrated into the recruitment training and overall curriculum at training institutions of the Nigeria Police Force.

It stated that the IGP has therefore charged the immediate past Commissioner of Police, EOD-CBRN, CP Patrick Atayero, who has now taken on the role of Commandant of the Nigeria Police Academy, to ensure the implementation of this curriculum.

According to the statement, “this strategic approach ensures that recruits are well-versed in the complexities of CBRN/WMD threats from the outset of their careers, fostering a generation of officers equipped to handle these challenges effectively.