National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), Kano zonal command says it has received one hundred and ninety one cases of trafficking in persons, child labour, sexual and gender based violence, from January 2022 to date.
NAPTIP Kano zonal commander, Mr. Abdullahi Babale made the disclosure during an exclusive interview with Radio Nigeria’s correspondent in Kano.
According to him, five hundred and thirty one victims were rescued, sheltered and reunited with their families, during the period under review.
The zonal commander maintained that, the agency had secured thirteen convictions on human trafficking, including that of three foreigners, one Ghanian and two Cameroonians.
Mr. Abdullahi Babale, decried the rising cases of human trafficking where victims are deceived through false pretences, employment by proxy and other unethical means and trafficked to foreign countries to engage in labour, organ harvest, prostitution and other criminal activities.
The zonal commander stressed that, NAPTIP Kano zonal command which comprises of Kano, Katsina, Jigawa, Kaduna and Bauchi states has conducted sensitization programs in schools, markets, motor parks and local government areas under.
” We have also visited radio, television stations for sensitization programs “
He said the program has yielded positive results, as the public are more knowledgeable about NAPTIP’s mandate, activities and how to report cases to the commission.
Barrister Abdullahi Babale explained that, the agency does not receive payment or gratification to treat cases, and called on the public to desist from sending their under age children for labour, virtual or proxy recruitment, and report any suspected person or character to NAPTIP for necessary action.
” Cases can be reported to NAPTIP office or through our 24 hour telephone number”
Radio Nigeria reports that , earlier the Director General of the Agency, Dr. Fatima Waziri Azi, has pointed out that, the agency has taken the fight against trafficking in persons, organ harvesting and others to various social media platforms such as facebook, instagram, telegram amongst others.
“As human traffickers have shifted from physical recruitment to virtual recruitment through virtual assessment of victims and proxy negotiations”
The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) is a law enforcement agency of the Federal Government of Nigeria, founded on the 14th of July, 2003 by the Trafficking in Persons (Prohibition) Enforcement and Administration Act of 2003 in order to combat human trafficking and other similar human rights violations.
KHADIJAH ALIYU
