National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), has disclosed alarming statistics regarding human trafficking in Nigeria over the past three years. Benue State topped the list with the highest number of trafficking cases, followed by Edo, Ondo, and Akwa Ibom, respectively.
The Director-General of NAPTIP, Fatima Waziri-Azi, made the findings while addressing participants at the 26th National Stakeholder’s Consultative Forum on Human Trafficking in Abuja, highlighting the urgent need for concerted efforts to combat the menace.
She said in recent times, NAPTIP has redoubled its efforts through enhanced partnership, collaboration, diligent prosecution, and extensive awareness campaigns aimed at bolstering its operations, resulting in a significant increase in convictions of human traffickers.
Furthermore, the NAPTIP DG outlined several notable achievements by the organization in combating human trafficking. Notable successes included the apprehension of kidney harvesters in Abuja, including a doctor associated with a private hospital.
“Additionally, a police officer was sentenced to five years for his involvement in trafficking and a notorious trafficking baron was extradited to Italy to serve a 13-year jail term”.
Eva De Wit, the First Secretary Migration for the Netherlands, highlighted the evolving nature of trafficking trends, revealing an estimated $236 million in illegal funds being generated from forced labor, this he said underscored the urgent need to make trafficking financially unattractive.
As stakeholders continue to grapple with the multifaceted challenges posed by human trafficking, forums such as this serve as crucial platforms for dialogue, collaboration, and the exchange of best practices in the ongoing fight against this heinous crime.
The Deputy Representative of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, Danilo Campisi, said the five-year action plan approved by the Federal Executive Council is important as it revolves around the five thematic areas; including protection and assistance, prevention, research, assessment, data management and statistics, prosecution law enforcement as well as access to justice.
RN
