Police Launch Special Unit to Crack Down on Terror Financing and Dirty Money

The Nigeria Police Force has created a specialized unit dedicated to investigating terrorism financing, money laundering and other financial crimes as part of efforts to strengthen the country’s fight against organized crime.

Inspector-General of Police Olatunji Disu announced the development during a meeting with the leadership of the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) at the Force Headquarters in Abuja.

According to the police chief, officers across the country have been directed to forward all cases involving terrorism financing, banditry and suspicious financial transactions to specialized investigators for proper handling.

Disu explained that the move reflects the changing nature of crime, where criminal networks increasingly rely on illegal financial transactions and cross-border money flows to fund their activities.

To improve investigations, the Force has established a dedicated Proceeds of Crime Section, headed by an experienced Deputy Commissioner of Police with expertise in financial crime investigations.

He said the new unit will focus on tracking illicit funds, strengthening anti-money laundering efforts and supporting investigations into terrorism financing and other organized criminal activities.

According to the IGP, the creation of the section has enhanced the Nigeria Police Force’s role within the country’s anti-money laundering framework and strengthened its capacity to investigate financial crimes.

Disu also called on the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit to provide additional training for police personnel in areas such as financial intelligence, asset tracing and modern investigative techniques.

Earlier, the Chief Executive Officer of the NFIU, Hafsat Bakari, described the Nigeria Police Force as a key partner in combating money laundering and terrorism financing.

She noted that financial intelligence now plays a critical role in investigating crimes such as kidnapping, cybercrime, corruption, human trafficking, drug trafficking, illegal mining, arms smuggling and other forms of organized crime.

The latest initiative is expected to improve collaboration between the police and financial intelligence agencies while enhancing Nigeria’s ability to detect, trace and disrupt criminal funding networks.