By Augustine Ehikioya
Nigeria has won the hosting right for the General Assembly of the African Union Mechanism for Police Cooperation (AFRIPOL).
This was disclosed by the Vice President of the International Criminal Police Organisation (INTERPOL) in charge of Africa, AIG Garba Baba Umar, in an exclusive interview with Security Watch Africa (SWA) in his office in Abuja.
According to him, the General Assembly in Nigeria will come up in October, 2022.
The decision for the hosting, he said, was taking in Nairobi, Kenya during the 10th meeting of the Steering Committee of the AFRIPOL.
He said “It is an organization that shares criminal intelligence information among African counties. There was a steering committee meeting to discuss the synergy between Police and Law Enforcement Agencies within the African continent.
“All the 54 countries in Africa are on board. They normally meet to decide the way forward on how to collaborate in fighting crime and criminality in Africa.
“This time around in Kenya at the steering committee meeting in which the President of INTERPOL was invited alongside myself, who is the Vice President in charge of Africa.
“We held the meeting and it was decided that Nigeria will host the next General Assembly in October,” he said
On the benefit to Nigeria and the continent, he said “This General Assembly will bring all the heads of law enforcement agencies in Africa to brainstorm on issues ranging from transnational crimes such as banditry, terrorism, kidnap for ransom, proliferation of light and small arms, human trafficking, and trafficking in illicit drugs.
“All these are some of the challenges Africa is facing,” he noted.
He said that the meeting will also help member countries to access biometric data of criminals in the continent, which will go a long way in fighting crimes.
He said his office as Vice President INTERPOL (Africa), is specially reaching out to all African countries and a regional meeting will soon hold.
The meeting, he said, will dwell on how to bring down crimes in Africa.
He noted that cooperation between Navy and INTERPOL has helped to bring down piracy in the Nigerian waters and environs.
Speaking on the Inspector General of Police (IGP), IGP Usman Alkali Baba, one year in office, the Vice President (INTERPOL) said he has achieved more than expected in the last 12 months.
“He is a visionary leader. He is a leader that sees things that ought to be done professionally.
“For the first time, the IGP became the campaign manager for one of the top seat at INTERPOL. He supported me till I emerged as Vice President INTERPOL.
According to him, the IGP’s tactics and policies have led to increases in salaries among other achievements.
He added “The Nigeria Police Force is taking shape. It is now to be reckon with internationally. He takes everyone along and always accepts superior argument.
“In his first one year in office, we have achieved more than what is expected of us,” he said.