The European Union (EU) has handed over a state-of-the-art digital interviewing facility and advanced operational assets to the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) to strengthen the agency’s capacity to investigate and prosecute transnational human trafficking and migrant smuggling networks.
The handover, which took place at NAPTIP headquarters in Abuja on Tuesday, was facilitated under the Common Operational Partnership France–Italy–Nigeria (COP Nigeria) initiative. The EU-funded project is implemented by CIVIPOL in collaboration with French and Italian law enforcement authorities.
The newly inaugurated facility is designed to modernize evidence collection while protecting survivors from retraumatisation:
Forensic Interview Complex: Features three specialized rooms—a central observation room and two secure interview suites equipped with one-way mirrors. This setup allows investigative teams to monitor proceedings in real time without interfering with interviews.
Audio-Visual Documentation Technology: High-definition recording systems ensure victim statements and suspect interrogations meet international legal standards, preserving evidence integrity for court proceedings.
Field Support Assets: Operational equipment was distributed across NAPTIP headquarters and three regional commands, targeted at enhancing communication, officer mobility, and intelligence gathering during complex field operations.
NAPTIP Reports 78 Convictions in 2026
Speaking at the ceremony, NAPTIP Director-General Binta Adamu Bello hailed the intervention as a major milestone in Nigeria’s efforts against human trafficking. She noted that the trauma-informed environment of the facility ensures victims can provide statements safely and with dignity.
”Tackling human trafficking and migrant smuggling—transnational crimes that exploit human vulnerability and breach fundamental rights—requires shared responsibility and coordinated international action. This facility strengthens our technical readiness to dismantle syndicate operations across borders.”
— Binta Adamu Bello, Director-General, NAPTIP
Bello disclosed that NAPTIP had secured 78 convictions since January, expressing optimism that the upgrade will boost prosecution success rates and leave “no safe haven” for criminal syndicates within or outside Nigeria.
