The Nigeria Police Force has highlighted the role of international cooperation in tracking fugitives and tackling transnational crimes, citing the arrests and repatriation of suspects wanted for murder and cocaine trafficking.
The force said the development was among the practical outcomes of its collaboration with INTERPOL and other international law enforcement agencies as it joined police organisations worldwide to mark the United Nations International Day of Police Cooperation on Monday.
In a statement signed by the Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Ani Iniedu, the police said international cooperation had become increasingly important as criminal networks expanded their activities across national borders.
The force noted that online fraudsters could target victims in multiple jurisdictions, while organised criminal groups moved people, illicit goods and proceeds across countries, making intelligence sharing and coordinated investigations essential to effective policing.
According to the police, one of the recent successes involved the arrest of Victor Benjamin Fejemirokum, a murder suspect wanted over the abduction and killing of an officer of the Federal Road Safety Corps and her daughter in Abeokuta, Ogun State.
The force said Fejemirokum was traced to Ghana after investigators followed his movements through a viral social media video. He was subsequently arrested by the Ghana Police Service and repatriated to Nigeria.
Similarly, international law enforcement cooperation led to the arrest of Mark Sunny Okoh, a Brazilian national wanted in connection with cocaine trafficking.
The police said Okoh had fled Brazil after jumping bail before he was eventually arrested in Okota, Lagos, following coordination between the relevant authorities. Extradition proceedings to Brazil have since been initiated.
The Nigeria Police Force said such operations demonstrated the importance of cooperation among law enforcement agencies in preventing suspects from exploiting international borders to evade justice.
The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu, reaffirmed the force’s commitment to strengthening its partnership with INTERPOL and other international law enforcement bodies.
Disu stressed that effective intelligence sharing, coordinated investigations, capacity building and cross-border operational support were necessary to address emerging security threats.
He said the police would continue to deepen such partnerships to ensure that criminals could not use jurisdictional boundaries as a shield against prosecution.
The force also said international police cooperation had contributed to the identification and location of victims, recovery of stolen property, tracking of fugitives, disruption of organised criminal networks and the fight against cyber-enabled crimes.
As the international community marks the United Nations International Day of Police Cooperation, the NPF said it remained committed to working with domestic and foreign partners to protect lives and property, support victims and strengthen the collective response to transnational crime.
