NAPTIP, Police Strengthen Partnership To Combat Human Trafficking In Bayelsa
By Ebi Freeman, YENAGOA –Â The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), Bayelsa State Command, has called for stronger collaboration with the Nigeria Police Force to protect vulnerable persons, combat human trafficking and ensure perpetrators are brought to justice.
The State Commander of NAPTIP, Mrs. Ngozi Opara, made the call on September 29, 2026, when she led senior officers of the Command on a courtesy visit to the newly deployed Commissioner of Police in Bayelsa State, CP Ajao Saka Adewale, at the Police headquarters in Yenagoa.
Opara said the visit was aimed at formally welcoming the new Commissioner to the state and strengthening the existing partnership between NAPTIP and the Nigeria Police Force in tackling human trafficking and related offences.
She expressed appreciation to the Police Command for the cordial relationship and cooperation NAPTIP had enjoyed since her arrival in Bayelsa, stressing that sustained inter-agency collaboration remained critical to protecting victims and vulnerable persons while ensuring that suspected traffickers face justice.
The NAPTIP commander particularly commended CP Adewale for his recent intervention in a case involving a serving police officer suspected of trafficking. She noted that the Commissioner had handed the suspect over to NAPTIP following a request from the agency for the release of the officer to facilitate investigation.
Responding, CP Adewale thanked the NAPTIP delegation for the visit and assured the agency of his commitment to maintaining and strengthening the existing relationship between the two organisations.
The Commissioner pledged that the Nigeria Police Force under his leadership would continue to work closely with NAPTIP to intensify efforts against human trafficking and promote greater cooperation in addressing the crime across Bayelsa State.
The visit also featured the presentation of NAPTIP Information, Education and Communication materials and Red Cards symbolising the campaign against human trafficking.
Officials of both organisations later posed for a group photograph to commemorate the visit.
