The Inspector-General of Police, Mr Olatuji Rilwan Disu, has reaffirmed the commitment of the Nigeria Police Force to support the operations of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons.
He said the police would deploy its full operational and intelligence capabilities to strengthen the agency’s mandate in combating human trafficking and related crimes.
Disu gave the assurance while receiving the Director-General of NAPTIP, Mrs Binta Adamu Bello, at the Force Headquarters in Abuja.
He emphasised a shift toward intelligence-led strategies, including enhanced joint operations, deployment of liaison officers and real-time intelligence sharing aimed at dismantling organised criminal networks.
The police chief also pledged technical support through the Intelligence Response Team and the Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Centre, alongside targeted capacity-building programmes and specialised training for NAPTIP personnel within police training institutions.
Bello expressed appreciation for the continued support of the police and requested deeper collaboration, particularly in specialised technical assistance and joint operational frameworks, to strengthen NAPTIP’s ability to meet its growing responsibilities.
Responding, Disu said regular strategic briefings would be institutionalised to monitor progress and sustain momentum, adding that the strengthened partnership reflects a zero-tolerance stance against human trafficking and associated offences.
Human trafficking remains a major concern in Nigeria, with authorities frequently uncovering networks involved in child exploitation, forced labour, sexual exploitation and illegal adoption schemes.
Meanwhile, NAPTIP Zonal Commander in Lagos, Mrs Comfort Agboko, has warned Nigerians against the sale of children, stressing that offenders would be prosecuted.
She spoke in GRA, Ikeja, Lagos, while receiving 17 pregnant women, one woman who lost her pregnancy, 10 children and two suspects.
The victims were rescued from a suspected baby factory in Okuju, Ilado, Road 1, Zone 1 area of Olorunda, Badagry, in Olorunda Local Council Development Area of Lagos State by the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps.
“We want to tell the public that we will do due diligence on this case. We also want to warn that people should endeavour to save children and not to sell them because it is another form of human trafficking.
“If NAPTIP nabs anyone, we will prosecute them,” she said.
