The Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, has called for stronger international cooperation to address the escalating threats of cattle rustling and the spread of chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and explosive (CBRNE) materials across Africa.
Egbetokun made the appeal while presenting a paper at the 27th INTERPOL African Regional Conference in Cape Town, South Africa. According to police spokesperson Olumuyiwa Adejobi, the IGP warned that cattle rustling in West Africa is evolving from a rural nuisance into a sophisticated criminal enterprise, fueling terrorism, armed groups, and cross-border criminal networks.
He highlighted the broader security implications, including the spread of zoonotic diseases such as anthrax and brucellosis, the trafficking of radiological materials through smuggling routes, and the use of proceeds from livestock theft to fund improvised explosive devices (IEDs).
“The IGP outlined six strategic pillars for response: intelligence fusion, livestock market reforms, anti-money laundering frameworks, stronger border cooperation, community partnerships, and CBRNE preparedness,” Adejobi said.
Egbetokun concluded by calling for a continent-wide and global alliance to secure Africa’s livestock trade, protect rural communities, and prevent extremists from exploiting regional vulnerabilities.
During the conference, he also met with a Brazilian delegation led by De Souza Rinaldo and Dos Reis Guedes Ferreira Alvares Andrea, agreeing to deepen Nigeria–Brazil police collaboration in intelligence sharing, tackling organized crime, and building capacity to manage CBRNE threats.
