IGP Tunji Disu Urges Disruption of Arms Trafficking for 2027 Elections

The inspector-general of police (IGP), Tunji Disu, addressed the critical need to disrupt cross-border arms trafficking to prevent electoral violence and secure Nigeria’s 2027 general elections. He made these remarks on October 12, 2026, in Abuja while inaugurating a five-day Small Arms and Light Weapons Identification and Tracing (SALW-IT) Simulation Programme, which involves security personnel from 12 African countries.

The program, running from October 12 to October 16, 2026, aims to enhance participants' skills in identifying, marking, registering, and tracing small arms and light weapons. Disu warned that the proliferation of illicit firearms threatens Nigeria’s electoral process, as such weapons are often used to intimidate voters and disrupt polling.

He attributed the movement of illegal arms to porous borders and trafficking routes, emphasizing the need for coordinated action among neighboring countries. Disu also highlighted the broader implications of arms trafficking, linking it to terrorism and organized crime, and called for stronger regional cooperation through intelligence sharing and legal assistance.