Forensic Investigation of Human Trafficking Networks Operating Through Edo State

Human trafficking remains one of the most documented forms of organised crime in Nigeria, with Edo State identified as a primary source zone for transnational trafficking networks. This study investigates the forensic investigation methods applied in human trafficking cases prosecuted in Edo State between 2020 and 2024. A qualitative descriptive design was employed, drawing on interviews with twelve investigators from the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), review of twenty case files, and focus group discussions with six survivor support workers. The study examines how forensic evidence including digital communications, financial transaction records, travel documents, and victim biological samples is collected, preserved, and used in prosecution. Findings reveal that digital evidence, particularly mobile phone data and social media communications, constitutes the most frequently cited forensic category in trafficking prosecutions. However, the forensic examination of these data sources is hampered by encryption and cross-border jurisdictional complications. Survivor testimony remains the primary prosecutorial tool, with forensic corroboration achieved in fewer than forty percent of cases. Recommendations include strengthening forensic digital capacity within NAPTIP, establishing inter-country forensic evidence-sharing agreements for trafficking cases, and developing survivor-informed forensic interview protocols. Keywords: human trafficking, forensic investigation, NAPTIP, Edo State, digital evidence.