Odita Sunday 
West African INTERPOL Chiefs Tour NPF Cybercrime Centre, Deepen Regional Fight Against Cybercrime and Child Exploitation
By Odita Sunday
Heads of INTERPOL National Central Bureaus (NCBs) across West Africa have paid a working visit to the Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Centre (NPF-NCCC), Abuja, on the sidelines of the 11th Annual General Congress of Heads of INTERPOL NCBs in the region.
The visit highlighted the growing commitment among West African law enforcement agencies to strengthen collaboration in combating cybercrime and other emerging transnational threats.
Leading the delegation, the Head of NCB Abuja, AIG Olaolu Adegbite, mfr, explained that the decision to visit the Centre was informed by its remarkable growth and achievements in cybercrime enforcement. He noted that the NPF-NCCC, which began as a unit within NCB Abuja, has evolved into a fully-fledged national centre responsible for coordinating Nigeria’s response to cybercrime.
AIG Adegbite encouraged the visiting Heads of INTERPOL NCBs to closely examine the technology, tools, and operational systems deployed by the Centre in tackling cybercrime, with a view to identifying best practices that could be replicated within their respective jurisdictions.
Welcoming the delegation on behalf of the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Disu, psc(+), npm, the Director of the NPF-NCCC, CP Akaninyene Ezima, described the Centre as a hub of “endless possibilities” and a leading institution in Nigeria’s efforts to combat cyber-enabled crimes.
He expressed appreciation to the delegates for the visit and congratulated member countries on recent security successes achieved through enhanced cooperation under the INTERPOL framework.
Also accompanying the delegation was Mrs. Paule Ouedraogo, Head of the INTERPOL Regional Bureau for West Africa, based in Abidjan.
Speaking during the visit, Madam Chantal Apenaeki, Head of the INTERPOL Regional Bureau for Central Africa, commended the facilities and operational capabilities of the NPF-NCCC. She particularly praised the Nigeria Police Force for its efforts in child protection and the fight against child abuse.
Madam Apenaeki noted that granting NCB Abuja access to INTERPOL Headquarters’ child protection database would open new opportunities for intelligence sharing and strengthen regional efforts aimed at protecting vulnerable children from online exploitation and abuse.
Responding, the Director of the NPF-NCCC reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to addressing child exploitation and related crimes, stressing that the country treats such offences with the utmost seriousness.
The visit concluded with a guided tour of the Centre’s facilities and renewed commitments by participating countries to strengthen cross-border cooperation, intelligence sharing, and collective action in tackling cybercrime and protecting vulnerable populations across West Africa and beyond.
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