The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) and other Nigerian agencies have launched a coordinated crackdown on a child pornography syndicate exposed by The PUNCH newspaper’s recent investigation.
The two-part report uncovered how underage boys were lured and exploited online for profit, prompting swift action from government agencies.
NAPTIP confirmed, according to a report by PUNCH newspaper, it was tracking the individuals behind the now-suspended X (formerly Twitter) account.
“We will ensure the perpetrators are caught and prosecuted,” said Titus Ngamariju, head of NAPTIP’s Cybercrime Response Team.
NAPTIP’s Director-General, Binta Adamu Bello, reportedly praised The PUNCH for its investigative work, stressing the importance of journalism in protecting vulnerable children.
The DG’s special adviser, Tahir Hassan, said that NAPTIP was working alongside INTERPOL, the Ministry of Justice, and the EFCC under a new Cybercrime Joint Team, recently inaugurated by Attorney-General Lateef Fagbemi (SAN).
The Ministry of Women Affairs has also pledged support, with spokesperson Jonathan Eze confirming that Minister Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim is personally following the case. The ministry is focusing on the rehabilitation and emotional recovery of the affected boys.
The Nigeria Police Force acknowledged receiving the investigation’s findings and assured swift action, while the National Film and Video Censors Board commended the exposure of the criminal network and confirmed it had alerted relevant cybercrime agencies.
In response to the investigation, X permanently suspended the implicated account and reaffirmed its zero-tolerance policy on child sexual exploitation.
As authorities continue their hunt for the perpetrators, efforts are being made to provide justice and rehabilitation for the victims and strengthen protections for children online.
The Punch
