The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) on Monday marked the United Nations International Day of Police Cooperation, highlighting key operational achievements recorded through international law enforcement partnerships over the past year.
The force disclosed this in a statement signed by its spokesperson, Ani Iniedu, saying the annual commemoration, observed every 7 September, underscores the growing importance of international collaboration in tackling transnational crime, protecting vulnerable persons and strengthening public safety.
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“The observance underscores the reality that modern criminal networks operate across borders, with online fraudsters targeting victims from different jurisdictions and organised crime groups moving people, illicit goods and proceeds across countries,” the statement read.
“Effective policing, therefore, requires sustained cooperation, timely intelligence sharing and coordinated action among law enforcement agencies,” it added.
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The police said international cooperation has enabled Nigeria to identify and locate victims, recover stolen property, track fugitives, dismantle organised criminal networks and combat cyber-enabled crime.
Data released by the police showed that between 2025 and 2026, collaboration with INTERPOL and partner National Central Bureaus (NCBs) resulted in the arrest of more than 10 fugitives, over five international extraditions and handovers, and the rescue of more than 60 trafficking and kidnapping victims.
The police also reported that assets valued at over N2 billion had been permanently forfeited, while more than 43 financial crime cases remain under investigation.
The police further disclosed that they received over 15 cybercrime referrals from partner NCBs, collaborated with more than 30 partner NCBs, and handled investigations spanning over 30 countries and jurisdictions.
The police cited the arrest of Victor Fejemirokum, a murder suspect wanted over the abduction and killing of a Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) officer and her daughter in Abeokuta, Ogun State, as one of the major successes recorded through international cooperation.
According to the statement, following efforts to trace his movements through a viral social media video, Mr Fejemirokum was located in Ghana, arrested by the Ghana Police Service and subsequently repatriated to Nigeria.
The police also highlighted the arrest of Mark Okoh, described as a Brazilian national wanted in connection with cocaine trafficking. It said Mr Okoh fled Brazil after jumping bail but was later arrested in Okota, Lagos, through international coordination, with extradition proceedings to Brazil subsequently initiated.
READ ALSO: Police rescue kidnap victim, apprehend suspect
According to the statement, the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Olatunji Disu, reaffirmed the force’s commitment to strengthening cooperation with INTERPOL and other international law enforcement partners.
It said Mr Disu prioritised effective intelligence sharing, coordinated investigations, capacity building, and cross-border operational support to tackle emerging security threats and prevent criminals from exploiting jurisdictional boundaries to evade justice.
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