Nigeria has launched a four-day capacity-building workshop in Lagos to equip investigators and prosecutors with advanced tools to tackle the growing use of technology in human trafficking and violence crimes.
Organised by the International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD) in partnership with NAPTIP, the training targets officers from Lagos and Ogun States under the TIPVAP NG Project, funded by the Netherlands’ Ministry of Asylum and Migration.
Law enforcement officials warn traffickers increasingly exploit social media, encrypted messaging, and digital finance to recruit and control victims, complicating evidence gathering and prosecution.
NAPTIP Director-General, Hajiya Binta L. Adamu Bello, said: “Technology has become a weapon for traffickers. To fight evolving crimes, our investigators and prosecutors must evolve too.”
Lagos State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Lawal Pedro, pledged government support, revealing plans to deploy anti-trafficking officers across local governments for improved enforcement and prosecution.
The Netherlands’ Consul-General, Michel Deelen, affirmed his country’s ongoing commitment, describing the initiative as “a shared responsibility to protect vulnerable persons and strengthen justice systems.”
The workshop features presentations, case studies, and practical exercises aimed at standardising investigative procedures, strengthening cyber skills, and fostering inter-agency collaboration to dismantle trafficking networks and secure convictions.
