EU, FIIAPP Trains NAPTIP, Nigeria Immigration and Police on the Identification of TIPSOM Perpetrators

Identification of perpetrators and victims of trafficking in persons (TIP) and smuggling of migrants (SOM) have been one of the key constraints to tackling TIPSOM. The number of perpetrators and victims identified is too small compared with the global rate of human trafficking and smuggling of migrants.

As part of the Action Against Trafficking in Persons and Smuggling of Migrants(A-TIPSOM), a project funded by European Union, the International Ibero-American Foundation for Administration and Public Policies (FIIAPP) on 20-21 October 2021 organized a 2-day training workshop for 50 frontline officers on the identification of perpetrators of trafficking in persons and smuggling of migrants.

The workshop which took place in Katsina State was meant to improve the knowledge of the NAPTIP, Immigration and Police officers on identification, investigation and prosecution of suspected traffickers and migrant smugglers, understand their networking system and to facilitate prosecution of culprits. Participants were drawn from NAPTIP, Nigeria Immigration Service and Nigeria Police Force from Katsina, Kano, Kaduna, Jigawa and NIS Jibiya Border Command.

The training was strategically held in Katsina state because it is a major rout for human trafficking and smuggling of migrants from Nigeria via Maghreb to Europe.

The main objective of the workshop was to enhance the capacity of frontline line NAPTIP, Immigration and Police officers in the identification of perpetrators as well as victims of human trafficking and smuggling of migrants in Nigeria.

Participants were exposed to new approaches and best practices in the identification of perpetrators. The Nigeria Immigration Service Standard Operating Procedure for combating the smuggling of migrants in Nigeria was used as one of the frameworks for the training. The workshop drawn frontline border officials from the 6 states in the South-South geo political zone in Nigeria.

This Workshop is an EU External Action Funded Project under the 11th EDF Project titled “Action against Trafficking in Persons and Smuggling of Migrants (A-TIPSOM)” and implemented by FIIAPP