Ghana and Nigeria Police Form Joint Task Force to Combat Human Trafficking and Cybercrime

The Ghana Police Service and the Nigeria Police Force have renewed their commitment to combating human trafficking and other transnational crimes through strengthened cooperation across West Africa.
This follows a high-level bilateral meeting held in Abuja, Nigeria, on Friday, November 7, co-chaired by COP Lydia Yaako Donkor, Director-General of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service, and DIG Sadiq I. Abubakar, MNI, PhD, of the Nigeria Police Force. The meeting gathered senior officials from law enforcement, immigration, intelligence, and diplomatic agencies of both nations.
Key discussions focused on the evolving trends in human trafficking, its link to cybercrime, and the urgent need for enhanced regional collaboration. The two countries agreed to establish a Joint Task Force (JTF) to manage cross-border trafficking cases, designate focal officers for real-time intelligence sharing, and create standard procedures for victim repatriation and support.
Additionally, both sides pledged to launch joint public awareness campaigns, particularly targeting youth and border communities, and to convene a high-level meeting of West African Police Chiefs to align regional strategies.
The session concluded with the signing of a communiqué, reaffirming the shared commitment of Ghana and Nigeria to dismantle trafficking networks, protect victims, and deepen cooperation within the ECOWAS and INTERPOL frameworks.