Police train officers on digital financial crime investigation

The Inspector-General of Police, Mr Kayode Egbetokun, on Monday declared open a three-day strategic training programme aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s capacity to investigate digital financial crimes and related organised criminal activities.

Egbetokun was represented by the Commissioner of Police in charge of training and development, Abuja, Mr Edwin Eloho, at the opening ceremony in Lagos.

He noted that the programme had come at a time when digital trading platforms, online forex markets, and cross-border financial transactions were increasingly being exploited for fraud, illicit financial flows, and organised criminal activities.

He said that the advanced investigative capacity building was essential to safeguard Nigeria’s financial system, protect investors, disrupt criminal financing networks, and reinforce national security.

The police boss said that effective security governance in an interconnected financial system required structured cooperation between public institutions and responsible private sector actors.

He added that as financial and cyber-enabled crimes transcended national borders, such partnerships strengthen investigative capacity, enhance regulatory compliance, and support financial intelligence efforts.

“The training is designed to provide officers with a comprehensive understanding of the digital financial ecosystem, including trading and forex operations, legitimate market practices, emerging fraud typologies, and investigative red flags.

“The knowledge is crucial for distinguishing lawful investments from fraudulent schemes and improving investigative accuracy and professionalism.

“The programme brings together carefully selected officers from key formations of the Nigeria Police Force, including the Cybercrime Unit, Anti-Fraud Section, INTERPOL National Central Bureau and Anti-Money Laundering Units.

“The Police Special Fraud Unit, and forensic and special investigation units are also included.

“Participation also includes officers from tactical and intelligence-focused units handling counter-terrorism financing, kidnapping, and ransom tracking.

“This reflects the close link between financial crimes and violent offences, ” Egbetokun said.

According to him, financial crime is a major enabler of terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, arms trafficking, and transnational organised crime networks, which depend heavily on illicit financial flows.

He said that strengthening the capacity to investigate forex-related fraud, money laundering, Ponzi schemes, and other illicit activities was a direct investment in national security, crime prevention, and public safety.

Reaffirming the commitment of the Nigeria Police Force to policing reform, the IG-P said modern officers must be technologically adept, financially literate, analytically sound, and strategically informed.

He said that participants would be trained in digital trading systems, forex operations, fraud detection, investigative methodologies, intelligence analysis, and inter-agency collaboration.

Egbetokun thanked the Department of Training and Development, HF Markets, and facilitators, describing the programme as a step toward building a smarter, more responsive and resilient police force.

In his opening remarks, the Managing Director, HF Markets Nigeria Ltd., Mr Ope Abiola, said the training was designed to help investigative officers navigate modern financial markets, including new instruments, digital platforms, and emerging fraud.

He said that digital trading, whether in CRD or Forex, was a tool that could be used responsibly or abused.

He added that the programme provided practical, evidence-based frameworks to distinguish legitimate activity from criminal deception.

Abiola encouraged participants to actively engage, challenge assumptions, and use the knowledge gained to protect the public while avoiding criminalisation of lawful market activities.

In his goodwill message, a financial expert, Mr Heritage Adisa, lauded the partnership between the Nigeria Police Force and private sector actors.

He emphasised its importance in tackling the growing sophistication of digital financial crimes.

Adisa noted that while access to financial markets had become easier through devices and the internet, effective collaboration was crucial to distinguish legitimate activity from fraud and protect genuine participants from undue penalties.