Capacity Building in Digital Forensics for Law Enforcement Agencies in Sokoto State

The increasing prevalence of digital evidence in modern criminal investigations has created an urgent demand for capacity building in digital forensics across Nigerian law enforcement agencies, particularly in states with historically limited technical investment. This study assesses digital forensic capacity building needs and existing training programmes within law enforcement agencies in Sokoto State, North West Nigeria. A professional development assessment design was employed, using structured needs assessments administered to forty-five police officers, interviews with six EFCC and NDLEA digital crime investigators, and review of training records from the Sokoto State Police Command. The study evaluates current digital forensic competencies, equipment availability, and the alignment of existing training with operational requirements. Findings indicate that fewer than ten percent of interviewed officers have received any formal digital forensics training, and the state command possesses only two functional forensic workstations with licensed analysis software. Demand for digital forensic support significantly exceeds current capacity, with a backlog of over thirty digital evidence cases pending analysis at the time of the study. Recommendations include the establishment of a dedicated digital forensic training centre in Sokoto under a joint federal and state government initiative, procurement of additional forensic workstations, and a structured competency framework for digital forensic officers in the North West zone. Keywords: digital forensics, capacity building, law enforcement, Sokoto State, training.