By Dudu M. Kamara
MONROVIA, Oct. 18 (LINA) — Deputy Inspector General of the Liberia National Police (LNP), Cllr. Nelson Freeman, has called on African security institutions to strengthen technological capabilities, improve intelligence sharing, and promote the lawful management of information to enhance cross-border security across the continent.
Freeman made the statement recently at the LNP headquarters in Monrovia during a meeting with a delegation from the Armed Forces Command and Staff College in Jaji, Federal Republic of Nigeria, as part of the college’s 2026 Africa Study Tour.
The tour was held under the theme, “Strengthening Cross-Border Engagements for Enhanced Regional Integration and Security.”
Speaking on behalf of the Inspector General of Police, Freeman emphasized the importance of regional security cooperation, effective border management, intelligence sharing, and community engagement in promoting peace, stability, and public safety.
He said timely and accurate intelligence sharing is essential to collective security, enabling law enforcement and other security institutions to identify threats, track criminal networks, investigate security incidents, and coordinate appropriate responses.
“We must continue to strengthen secure channels of communication and establish practical mechanisms for the timely exchange of relevant information among law enforcement, the military, immigration, customs, and other authorized security institutions,” Freeman said.
He added that joint security operations and interagency cooperation are critical to addressing threats that extend beyond national borders.
According to him, regular security coordination, joint border-monitoring operations, coordinated patrols, and collaborative investigations can help close gaps exploited by transnational criminal networks.
Freeman stressed that such initiatives must be conducted in accordance with the laws of participating states, with due regard for national sovereignty, jurisdiction, and the protection of human rights.
He also underscored the importance of capacity-building and professional development, noting that cross-border security operations are only effective when the personnel and institutions responsible for implementing them are adequately equipped and trained.
“We must invest in specialized training, modern investigative techniques, border surveillance capabilities, digital forensics, cyber investigations, and strategic leadership development,” he said.
Freeman further noted that exchanges of professional experience among African security institutions could help them develop solutions tailored to their respective national contexts while addressing shared security challenges.
He said border management must be integrated into the broader regional security framework, noting that criminal networks increasingly exploit technological advancements to facilitate illicit activities and evade detection across jurisdictions.
The LNP deputy chief also highlighted the importance of community engagement and public confidence in strengthening border security.
He said border communities are often among the first to observe unusual movements, criminal activities, and emerging tensions.
By engaging traditional leaders, community representatives, youth leaders, and other local stakeholders, he explained, security institutions can improve early-warning systems, encourage voluntary cooperation, and resolve local disputes before they escalate into broader security concerns.
Freeman said these priorities require strong political commitment, clear institutional frameworks, regular coordination, and effective mechanisms for evaluating the outcomes of joint security initiatives.
“Your visit comes at an important time when the security challenges confronting our region increasingly demand collective action, strategic cooperation, and stronger institutional partnerships,” he said.
He added that the theme of the delegation’s engagement was particularly relevant to the collective security interests of Liberia, Nigeria, and the wider West African region.
Freeman observed that security threats do not respect national borders, citing transnational organized crime, human trafficking, cybercrime, violent extremism, illicit arms proliferation, and the movement of criminal networks across borders as major challenges to national stability and regional development.
He stressed that these threats cannot be effectively addressed by any single country or security institution acting in isolation.
According to him, the security of one nation is closely linked to that of its neighbors, as vulnerabilities in one country can create opportunities for criminal networks to operate across the wider region.
“Our response must be guided by a shared understanding that regional security is a collective responsibility requiring sustained cooperation, mutual trust, and coordinated action,” he emphasized.
Freeman said strengthening cross-border security is particularly important for Liberia because its national security environment is closely connected to that of its Mano River Union neighbors and the wider West African region.
He cited Liberia’s relationships with Guinea, Sierra Leone, and Côte d’Ivoire as underscoring the need for effective border management, timely intelligence exchange, coordinated law enforcement operations, and continuous engagement among security institutions.
The delegation, comprising military students, met with senior LNP officials at the police headquarters in Monrovia on Tuesday, October 13, 2026.
The engagement highlighted the longstanding relationship between Liberia and Nigeria and the importance of strengthening cooperation among African security institutions.
Meanwhile, Brigadier General Mohammed Aliyu Abdullahi, head of the Nigerian delegation, emphasized the importance of intelligence sharing, joint security operations, professional training, and institutional partnerships in combating transnational crimes, including human trafficking, terrorism, cybercrime, and illicit arms trafficking.
The engagement reaffirmed the importance of cooperation between Liberia and Nigeria in advancing professional development, strengthening institutional relationships, and addressing shared security challenges.
Discussions also highlighted the need for collaboration among military institutions, law enforcement agencies, and regional organizations while respecting national sovereignty, the rule of law, and human rights.