The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) has launched an investigation into the uploading of obscene photos depicting a young girl believed to be no older than five years old. Social media users alerted NAPTIP to the disturbing images, which included a flyer promoting a “Birthday Bash” for the minor scheduled for May 28, 2024, at Spring Leaders Montessori School in Auchi, Edo State.
One user, identified as Miss Ezeani, raised the alarm on Instagram, drawing attention to the photos shared on the accounts @officialsarah_ig and @black_sherriff_justice. Expressing deep concern for the child’s safety, Ezeani highlighted the presence of explicit images showing the girl in adult settings, wearing thongs, and posing suggestively.
In response, NAPTIP acknowledged the seriousness of the situation, categorizing the material as Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM), which constitutes a criminal offense. The agency assured the public that it is actively working to contact Meta (the parent company of Instagram) to have the accounts removed, while simultaneously tracking down the individuals responsible for uploading the photos.
NAPTIP emphasized the importance of refraining from sharing unsanitized images of the child, as doing so contributes to the distribution of CSAM, thereby perpetuating the crime. The agency urged social media users to assist by reporting any related content and refraining from further dissemination of the material.