NAPTIP rescues 19,000 trafficked persons, gears up to do more
By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
Up to 19,000 persons have been rescued by the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) which also secured the conviction of 32 traffickers in court in the first five months of 2023.
NAPTIP Director of Intelligence and Public Enlightenment, Josiah Emerole, gave the figures in Abuja at a national learning, experience sharing and policy brief dissemination on combating human trafficking and unsafe migration.
The event was organised by Women Aid Collective (WACOL) with the support of the Swiss Government, managed by its Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA).
“Between January and May 2023, NAPTIP secured the conviction of 32 persons for various offenses related to human trafficking. This is in addition to the no fewer than 19,000 persons rescued by the agency since its inception,” Emerole said.
Former Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) Controller General, Muhammad Babandede, identified bad governance as a major driver of illegal migration and human trafficking.
“Human trafficking is not only a matter of crime. Governance is a major issue. The issue of bad governance is the underlying factor that promotes illegal migration and trafficking,” he stressed.
“It is important to address this issue if we want to effectively combat human trafficking and unsafe migration.”
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Impact on Nigeria of human trafficking
WACOL Executive Director Joy Ezeilo expressed concern that one in every four Africans trafficked is a Nigerian, warning the country is hugely affected as a source of, a transit camp, and destination for human trafficking.
“It is disheartening to note that one in every four Africans trafficked is a Nigerian. This is a serious issue that requires urgent attention from all stakeholders,” she said, per Vanguard.
“I believe we’re not doing enough prevention, because prevention is key to curbing human trafficking, and also addressing the root causes, because if you look at the push and pull factors, you will find that poverty, youth unemployment, security issues, inequalities, exclusion, conflict, even corruption, all fuel and exacerbate human trafficking.”
The event was attended by stakeholders from various sectors, including government officials, civil society organisations, and the media.
There were also presentations and discussions on how to combat human trafficking and unsafe migration in Nigeria.