NAPTIP Calls for Unified National Response to Rising Violent Crime

NAPTIP Calls for Unified National Response to Rising Violent Crime

By: Michael Mike

The Director-General of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), Dr. Binta Bello has called for a coordinated national effort to confront the growing wave of violent crime across the country.

She made the appeal in Abuja on Wednesday at the High-Level Policy Dialogue on stopping violent crime in Nigeria.

Speaking to an audience of government officials, development partners, civil society organisations, traditional leaders, and security agencies, Dr. Bello said the country could no longer rely on fragmented responses to issues ranging from gender-based violence to cyber-enabled crimes.

She said: “This Dialogue is not ceremonial; it is a strategic gathering. Nigeria must move beyond isolated interventions and embrace a truly integrated framework for protecting its citizens—especially women, children, and vulnerable groups.”

She disclosed that the forthcoming 2024 Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Report paints a troubling picture.

According to her, the data shows increasing cases of gender-based violence, widespread underreporting, delayed justice processes, and weak survivor support systems in several states.

She noted that although more states have domesticated the VAPP Act and awareness continues to grow, gaps in institutional capacity and data coordination still hinder effective response, warning that: “No society can achieve sustainable peace when the vulnerable remain unprotected.”

The NAPTIP DG also highlighted significant progress made by the Agency’s Cybercrime Response Team (CRT) in tackling online exploitation and tech-enabled trafficking. She revealed that between January and November 2025, the specialized unit handled 56 cases, investigated 48, referred 12, and secured three active court prosecutions.

The CRT, which works with partners including INTERPOL, NCA-UK, UNODC, ICMPD, Meta, NFIU, ONSA, and the Nigeria Police NCCC, recently became a founding member of the Joint Case Team on Cybercrimes (JCTC) established by the Attorney-General of the Federation.

She said: “These achievements position NAPTIP as a national leader in combating cyber-enabled trafficking and protecting vulnerable populations in the digital ecosystem.”

A major highlight of the event was the launch of NAPTIP’s E-Learning App, designed to expand capacity-building for law enforcement officers, social workers, prosecutors, community leaders, and other stakeholders nationwide.

Bello described the platform as a strategic tool to bridge knowledge gaps and ensure no state or institution is left behind in the fight against violent crime.

She however emphasised that effective prevention and response require seamless collaboration between sectors including health, education, justice, traditional institutions, the media, and digital service providers.

She also called for the strengthening of early-warning systems, improved reporting channels, trauma-informed service delivery, and harmonised national and state-level data systems.

She said: “As Nigeria marks the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence, we must reaffirm our commitment to ending digital violence and all other forms of abuse.”

She expressed gratitude to the First Lady, the Attorney-General of the Federation, development partners, and the various ministries, departments, agencies, and community groups represented at the Dialogue.

She added that: “Our deliberations today must translate into stronger policies, stronger partnerships, and stronger protection for every Nigerian.”

NAPTIP Calls for Unified National Response to Rising Violent Crime