Follow Us on Google
From Fred Ezeh, Abuja
The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) has raised the alarm about the growing cases of digital violence and cyber-enabled trafficking, describing it as a fast-growing threat in the fight against human trafficking.
To this end, NAPTIP said its Cybercrime Response Team (CRT), a specialised digital-investigation unit mandated to address cyber-enabled trafficking, online child exploitation, crypto-linked criminal proceeds, and other tech-facilitated abuses, is working tirelessly to confront these challenges by leveraging open-source intelligence (OSINT), digital forensics, financial-intelligence tracing, and victim-centred approaches.
Director-General of NAPTIP Dr Fatima Adamu Bello stated this in Abuja on Wednesday at the high-level policy dialogue to stop violent crime in Nigeria, themed “Strengthen Multi-Sectoral Action to End Violent Crime in Nigeria”.
She said, “Digital violence has emerged as a fast-growing threat, manifesting through online harassment, cyberstalking, non-consensual sharing of images, child sexual exploitation materials, and other forms of technology-facilitated abuse that transcend physical boundaries.
“At the same time, communities across the country continue to experience violent assaults, trafficking, abductions, and complex forms of exploitation that test the resilience of our justice and security institutions.
“The forthcoming 2024 VAPP Report provides critical evidence of the scale and complexity of these challenges. It reveals not only the rising incidence of violence but also the troubling patterns of underreporting, delayed justice, insufficient data harmonisation, and inadequate survivor support services in many areas.”
She, therefore, suggested that digital platforms must adopt stronger safeguards to prevent online exploitation. “In addition, development partners must continue to support the strengthening of our institutional and technical capacity.
“And every citizen must recognise that preventing violence is a collective moral obligation. Building a coordinated response also requires strengthening our policy framework, resource allocation, institutional capacities, and accountability mechanisms. We must expand early-warning systems that allow communities to identify risk factors and intervene before violence escalates,” she added.
She further confirmed that the CRT is working closely with national and international partners such as NCA-UK, INTERPOL, UNODC, ICMPD, Meta, NFIU, ONSA, and NPF NCCC to achieve the desired objectives.
“In May 2025, the CRT became a founding member of the Joint Case Team on Cybercrimes (JCTC), Nigeria’s multi-agency platform created by the Attorney General to fast-track complex cybercrime investigations.
Other News
“Between January and November 2025, the CRT strengthened its operational capacity through extensive national and international training, developed a comprehensive SOP, and deployed a digital case management system to enhance transparency and efficiency.
“The Team also played a central role in the JCTC, improving intelligence sharing and coordinated investigations across agencies. Within the same period, it handled 56 cases: 48 investigated, 12 referred, and 3 currently in court, ranging from online child exploitation and sextortion to digital recruitment for trafficking and crypto-enabled fraud. These achievements position NAPTIP as a national leader in combating cyber-enabled trafficking and protecting vulnerable populations in the digital ecosystem.”
The First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, represented by the wife of the Speaker, House of Representatives, Hajia Fatima Tajudeen Abass, noted that gender-based violence and other violent crimes in Nigeria pose a threat to everyone, regardless of age, gender, or social status.
“These menaces reflect the immense pain, suffering, and loss of countless individuals and families. Additionally, the rise of digital and technology-facilitated abuse, which now affects millions of women and girls, is a growing concern.
“I have been informed that the newly released 2024 Implementation Report on the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act, 2015, offers valuable insights into the factors that drive or hinder progress in addressing Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV).
“It also highlights the importance of coordinated multi-sectoral action among the government, civil society, development partners, and communities to sustain advocacy and strengthen support for survivors,” she said.
She advocated institutional and community engagements to address cultural and social barriers that discourage victims from seeking justice or protection, stressing that such protective measures align with the Renewed Hope Agenda of the government, which seeks to ensure that every Nigerian, regardless of gender, is protected and able to live and thrive freely without fear of violence, intimidation, or abuse.
“We must challenge harmful cultural norms and attitudes that perpetuate abuse. We must support survivors, amplify their voices, and ensure that perpetrators are held accountable under the law. On our part, through the Renewed Hope Initiative, we remain steadfast in empowering women economically, promoting education for girls, and supporting survivors of abuse with the resources they need to rebuild their lives.
“I am also pleased to announce that through our collaboration with international partners, 36 states and the FCT have established dedicated hotlines for reporting gender-based violence,” she stated.
Meanwhile, the representative of the International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD), in a goodwill message, pledged to work with governments and institutions around the world to strengthen migration governance, improve protection systems, and support evidence-based policies.
