FG, US Collaborate On Cyber-Crime

The Federal Government has collaborated with the United States counter trafficking center to fight cyber-crimes within and outside the country.

The collaboration made by the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) is against human traffickers and other organised criminal gangs operating with the aid of cyber-technology.

The agreement with the United States counter-trafficking center, which is the National Centre for Missing and Exploited Children is to enhance tracing and diligent investigation of all cases relating of child abuse and human trafficking.

Director General (DG) of NAPTIP, Dr Fatima Waziri-Azi, said with the development, the agency shall have unrestricted access to millions of information around the world that would help tackle online recruitment, trafficking and exploitation of victims.

Head, Press and Public Relations Unit of the agency, Stella Nezan, made this known in a statement.

She said the DG made the disclosure in Abuja while speaking on the 2022 counter-trafficking strategic approach of the agency aimed at ensuring protection of Nigerians from human trafficking and other forms of exploitation, online and offline.

Nezan stated, “Hard time awaits human traffickers and other organised criminal gangs operating with the aid of cyber-technology, as the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) has concluded collaboration with the National Centre for Missing and Exploited Children to enhance tracing and diligent investigation of all cases relating to child abuse and human trafficking.

“It would be recalled that Dr Fatima Waziri-Azi, has consistently maintained that the arrest and prosecution of high profile human traffickers operating both within and outside Nigeria remain one of her strategic priority, as this will serve as deterrent to others as well as reduce the level of impunity and ensure satisfactory justice delivery to victims of human trafficking.

“Investigation revealed that apart from millions of vulnerable and unaccompanied children that are being trafficked across the West Africa corridors and migration routes, many victims are held and blackmailed by traffickers in various destinations with the use of technology to shield their identities and also ensure firm and effective control measure on their victims.

“The National Centre for Missing and Exploited Children is the custodian of the Cybertipline, which is a centralised reporting mechanism for crimes related to the sexual exploitation of children. The Cybertipline provides an online mechanism for members of the public and electronic service providers to report incidents of suspected child sexual exploitation.

“Based in the United States of America, Cybertipline serves as the National Resource Centre and clearing house on missing and sexually exploited Children.”