NAPTIP, ICMPD, Netherlands Govt Train Investigators, Prosecutors on Tackling Technology-driven Trafficking, VAP in Nigeria

Chiemelie Ezeobi

A capacity building workshop for NAPTIP investigators and prosecutors, and related enforcement agencies on Trafficking in Persons (TiP) and Violence Against Persons (VAP), held yesterday at Amber Residence, Ikeja, Lagos, to tackle technology and cyber-driven trafficking cases in Nigeria.

The workshop was organised by the International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD) in partnership with NAPTIP, with support from the Ministry of Asylum and Migration of the Kingdom of the Netherlands under the Building an Environment Free of Human Trafficking and Violence Against Persons in Nigeria (TIPVAP NG) Project.

According to ICMPD Project Manager, Mr. Tunde Omoyeni, “The increasing reliance on technology by criminal networks to perpetrate Trafficking in Persons (TiP) and Violence Against Persons (VAP) in Nigeria has created serious challenges for investigators, prosecutors, and law enforcement agencies.

“Offenders exploit social media platforms, encrypted communication channels, and digital payment systems to recruit, control, and exploit victims while masking their identities and operations.”

He explained that “One of the most critical barriers to securing convictions in TiP and VAP cases is the mishandling of evidence, whether physical, biological, or digital. Weaknesses in evidence management, including breaches in the chain of custody, often undermine admissibility in court and lead to the collapse of otherwise strong cases.”

He said this challenge is compounded by Nigeria’s federal structure. “Subnational institutions at the state level, which are closest to local populations, hold significant responsibility for law enforcement.

“ However, due to the peculiarities of each state, practices and procedures vary widely. This results in a lack of uniformity between state and federal institutions, coupled with varying levels of institutional capacity across the country.”

Omoyeni noted that the TIPVAP NG project “seeks to address these gaps by providing targeted, practical training to frontline investigators and prosecutors from NAPTIP and sister agencies.

“The activity will strengthen inter-agency collaboration across federal and state levels, while equipping participants with the technology, skills, and procedures needed to disrupt criminal networks and ensure that evidence is preserved with integrity for successful prosecution.”

He said the workshop aims to equip investigators and prosecutors with the requisite technology and technical know-how to disrupt criminal networks committing cyber-enabled trafficking and preserve the integrity of TiP and VAP case evidence for use in court.

According to him, “The objective of this workshop is to enhance the investigative and prosecutorial capacity of NAPTIP and related law enforcement agencies in handling TiP and VAP cases, with a specific focus on evidence management and cyber-enabled investigations.”

He outlined the specific objectives of the training: “Strengthen the technical skills of investigators and prosecutors to effectively collect, process, and present physical and digital evidence in TiP and VAP cases; Equip participants with practical knowledge and procedures to maintain an unbroken chain of custody, ensuring evidence integrity and admissibility in court; Foster inter-agency collaboration and harmonisation of practices between federal and state-level institutions; and Promote the strategic use of technology to detect, disrupt, and dismantle cyber-enabled trafficking and violence networks.”

In her speech, the Director-General of NAPTIP, Binta L. Adamu Bello, OON, said the initiative, under the J&S Migration Partnership (Building an environment free of human trafficking and Violence Against Persons in Nigeria) Project, is sponsored by the Kingdom of the Netherland and implemented by the International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD) in Nigeria, as a collaboration, which underscores their shared commitment to combating these heinous crimes of Trafficking in Persons and Violence Against Persons.

Emphasising NAPTIP’s commitment, she said as the Director-General, the agency remains steadfast in its mission to “Prevent, Protect, investigate, and prosecute cases of human trafficking and violence against persons in Nigeria”.

Harping on the complex nature of trafficking, she said it requires multi-disciplinary approaches, adding that “The complex nature of Trafficking in Persons (TIP) and Violence Against Persons (VAP) demands a multi-disciplinary response that brings together diverse expertise and perspectives.

“This workshop has been designed to foster collaboration across different agencies and institutions because the Agency recognises that working at cross purposes cannot defeat the criminal networks involved in these crimes.”

She added that success depends on the combined work of financial investigators, prosecutors, and social workers, which was why the workshop “is also intended to enhance the capacity of our investigators, prosecutors, and our Sister Law enforcement agencies to effectively handle cases of Human Trafficking and Violence Against Persons.

“ We are focused on strengthening our response mechanisms, improving inter-agency collaboration, and ensuring that our efforts are informed by best practices and international standards.”

While addressing the various forms trafficking takes across regions, she said: “The manifestations of Human Trafficking vary across regions, but share common threads of exploitation and abuse.

“From the sexual exploitation of women and girls transported across West Africa to the forced labor of men in construction and agriculture, these crimes represent a fundamental violation of human rights and dignity.”

Bello said the drivers of trafficking include poverty, conflict, political instability and systemic inequalities. She added that contextual factors such as single-parent homes, broken homes, child sexual abuse and the “culture of silence” further deepen vulnerabilities.

She cited UNODC’s 2025 major trends, saying:“Human Trafficking is becoming increasingly complex due to factors such as armed conflicts, economic instability, and the rapid growth of digital technology, which are linked with other crimes like money laundering, drug trafficking, and corruption. It is in this light that this training workshop is expected to deal with the linkages between these factors.”

She thanked the Government of the Netherlands and ICMPD for their long-standing support, just as she charged participants to maximise the training and ensure that lessons learned here are not left in this room, but taken to their various organisations and also put into practice.

She reminded them that “Every case statistic represents an individual whose freedom, dignity, and future have been deeply affected. Every prosecution carries the promise of preventing further harm. And every policy conversation holds the power to build systems that stop exploitation before it begins.”

In his remarks, Michel L.H. Deelen, Consul-General of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Lagos, representing the Head of ICMPD Nigeria Office, Ms. Isabelle Wolfsgruber, reaffirmed the purpose of the project.

He stated that the workshop is delivered under the TIPVAP NG Project, implemented by ICMPD with funding from the Government of the Netherlands. The project, he said, aims to strengthen inter-agency collaboration, equip participants with technical skills, and ensure integrity of evidence for successful prosecution.

Deepen said: “This workshop therefore focuses on enhancing evidence management, strengthening cyber-investigative competencies, and promoting collaboration between investigators and prosecutors.

“ Through presentations, case studies, and practical exercises, participants will gain improved technical knowledge and tools necessary to preserve the integrity of evidence and support stronger prosecution outcomes.”

He added that the workshop provides a platform for shared experiences from Lagos and Ogun.

He noted:“Successful counter-trafficking work thrives on collaboration. No single agency can respond effectively to crimes as complex as human trafficking and violence against persons.”

He commended NAPTIP for its cooperation and the Dutch Embassy for its support, adding that ICMPD appreciates “the dedication to advancing justice, protecting vulnerable persons, and contributing to a coordinated response to trafficking and violence in Nigeria.”