The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) has apprehended no fewer than 115 suspected human traffickers and rescued 75 victims in Akwa Ibom, Cross River, and Rivers states.
The Zonal Commander of NAPTIP, Mr Emmanuel Awhen, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Uyo on Tuesday.
The zone comprises Akwa Ibom, Cross River, and Rivers states.
“Between July 2023 and now, we’ve apprehended 115 human traffickers within the zone and rescued about 75 victims.
“Out of the 75 victims rescued, we have empowered 25 of them with skills in tailoring, hairdressing, barbing, and shoemaking.
“Most of the victims rescued are kept in our shelter, and we’ve counselled, empowered, and reunited them with their families,” the NAPTIP commander said.
He added that during the period, NAPTIP charged 15 cases to court and secured three convictions, while 12 cases are still pending.
The zonal commander appealed to judges to give special attention to human trafficking cases to serve as a deterrent to other traffickers.
Awhen said that coastal communities in the zone are endemic areas of human trafficking.
According to him, a lot of human trafficking victims have been rescued in the coastal areas.
“We appeal to members of the public that this fight on human trafficking should not be left in the hands of NAPTIP and the Federal Government alone.
“The agency needs the support and cooperation of all stakeholders, so that together we can fight this crime.
“We have financial constraints to carry out robust sensitisation and campaigns against human trafficking, especially to rural communities, and feeding victims is very expensive now,” he said.
Awhen advised parents and guardians not to let their family members’ to deceive them and take their children and wards on the pretext of helping to train or secure employment for them.
He said that most often, such children or wards end up being used for child labour or prostitution.
The zonal commander warned traffickers to desist from such acts, stressing that “anyone found culpable, the full weight of the law would be applied on such”.
NAN reports that the World Day Against Trafficking in Persons is marked on July 30.
The theme for this year is “Leave No Child Behind in the Fight Against Human Trafficking.”
Awhen said that this year’s global campaign urges accelerated action to end child trafficking.
According to him, children represent a significant proportion of victims trafficked worldwide, with girls being disproportionately affected. (NAN)