Police Reaffirms INTERPOL Collaboration Against Transnational Crime

The Nigeria Police Force has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening collaboration with INTERPOL and other international law enforcement agencies to combat transnational crime and prevent criminals from exploiting international borders to evade justice.

In a statement signed by the Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Ani Iniedu, on Monday to mark the United Nations International Day of Police Cooperation, the Force said international law enforcement cooperation remained critical to protecting vulnerable persons, recovering stolen property, tracking fugitives and disrupting organised criminal networks.

The police said modern criminal networks operate across jurisdictions, with online fraudsters targeting victims in different countries and organised crime groups moving people, illicit goods and proceeds across borders.

“Effective policing therefore requires sustained cooperation, timely intelligence sharing and coordinated action among law enforcement agencies,” the statement said.

The Force said international cooperation had delivered practical results for Nigeria, including the identification and location of victims, recovery of stolen property, tracking of fugitives and combating cyber-enabled crimes.

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It cited the arrest of Victor Benjamin Fejemirokum, a murder fugitive wanted over the abduction and murder of an FRSC officer and her daughter in Abeokuta, Ogun State.

According to the statement, efforts to trace Fejemirokum through a viral social media video led to his location in Ghana, where he was arrested by the Ghana Police Service before being repatriated to Nigeria.

The police also disclosed the arrest of Mark Sunny Okoh, a Brazilian national wanted in connection with cocaine trafficking, who fled Brazil after jumping bail.

Okoh was arrested in Okota, Lagos, following international coordination, while extradition proceedings to Brazil were subsequently initiated.

Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu, reaffirmed the Force’s commitment to deepening cooperation with INTERPOL and other international law enforcement partners.

Disu said, “effective information sharing, coordinated investigations, capacity building and cross-border operational support are essential to confronting emerging security threats and ensuring that criminals cannot exploit jurisdictional boundaries to evade justice.”

The IGP said the Nigeria Police Force recognised international police cooperation as “an essential component of modern policing” and would continue to strengthen partnerships that enhance intelligence-led policing, support investigations, protect communities and improve the collective capacity of law enforcement agencies to respond to transnational crime.

The Force said it would continue to work with partners at home and abroad to protect lives and property, support victims and build safer communities.