NAPTIP goes tough on online sex exploiters
To further strengthen efforts at combating online sexual exploitation of especially young Nigerians, the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), has set up a Cybersecurity Response Team to address rising cases of online sexual exploitation and sextortion in Nigeria.
Director General, NAPTIP, Professor Fatima Waziri-Azi, said the team is expected to scale up intelligence and undercover operations within the Federal Capital Territory, (FCT), and other flashpoints within the country to nip in the bud the unwholesome activities of some suspected criminal elements who continue to take advantage of vulnerable people, especially young girls and children.
Speaking at the setting up of the cybersecurity team yesterday in Abuja, Professor Azi expressed concern over what she termed “the careless attitude of some persons who, in the euphoria of emotion and love, let down their guard and naively share inappropriate content of themselves” online resulting in them becoming prey to extortionists.
The DG cautioned Nigerians most especially youngsters, against indiscriminate sharing of intimate content, and private information, with friends, and strangers to address the rising cases of online sexual exploitation and sextortion.
Prof. Waziri-Azi, said, “We all know that the advent of technology has brought about unprecedented opportunities for communication and access to information which has also created new avenues for criminals to exploit people, especially vulnerable women, and children.
“We have seen incremental cases of Child Sexual Assault materials on the internet, child pornography; sextortion, and revenge porn, and these are all forms of sexual exploitation which is why as an agency, we must take a proactive and collaborative approach to tackle online threats.
“So, NAPTIP in partnership with International Justice Mission (IJM), Meta, International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Bureau (INLEB), National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), and UNODC, has trained 20 Officers from our headquarters and zonal commands on Child Sexual Exploitation Materials, Open Source & Social Media Intelligence as well as Online Investigation.
She continued, “The Cybersecurity Response Team made up of trained Officers from different units and departments, coordinated by the Head of the National Monitoring Center will leverage cutting-edge technology and expertise to identify perpetrators of cybercrimes within our remit.
“In addition, the unit is expected to work closely with other stakeholders in this space to enhance our collective response to cybersecurity and online exploitation challenges.
“Now, given the constant presence of threat actors, cyberattacks against private and public organizations are inevitable.
“Because attackers face relatively little risk compared to the potential losses that the organizations they target could suffer, hackers have an advantage over those targeted. Which is why the Cybersecurity Task Team is also charged with the responsibility of preventing and responding to cyber-attacks on the agency’s cyber infrastructure through an Embedded Endurance Strategy.”
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