NAPTIP arrests 115 for human trafficking in A’Ibom, others

In the states of Akwa Ibom, Cross River, and Rivers, the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons has rescued 75 victims and arrested no fewer than 115 alleged human traffickers.

This was revealed in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria in Uyo on Tuesday by Emmanuel Awhen, the Zonal Commander of NAPTIP.

The states of Akwa Ibom, Cross River, and Rivers make up the Zone.

We have rescued roughly 75 victims and arrested 115 people traffickers in the area between July 2023 and now.

"We have equipped 25 of the 75 victims who were rescued with skills in shoemaking, tailoring, hairdressing, and barbering.

The NAPTIP commander stated, "We've counselled, empowered, and reunited the majority of the rescued victims with their families while they're being housed in our shelter."

He continued by saying that over that time, NAPTIP brought 15 cases to trial, obtained three convictions, and left 12 cases unsettled.
To discourage other traffickers, the zonal commander urged judges to give human trafficking cases extra consideration.

Awhen claimed that human trafficking is rampant in the zone's coastal towns.

He claims that many victims of human trafficking have been saved in coastal areas.

"We make a public appeal to everyone to join us in the fight against human trafficking, not to rely solely on NAPTIP and the federal government alone"
"In order for us to combat this crime as a team, the agency needs the collaboration and support of all parties involved.

"Furthermore, feeding victims is very expensive, and we have limited resources to carry out robust campaigns and sensitisation against human trafficking, especially to rural communities," he stated.

Awhen counselled guardians and parents not to allow relatives to mislead them and abduct their kids or wards under the guise of assisting with their training or finding them jobs.

According to him, these kids or wards are frequently employed as child labour or as prostitutes.

The zonal commander issued a warning to traffickers to stop doing such things, emphasising that "the full weight of the law would be applied on such."

According to NAN, the World Day Against Trafficking in Persons is marked on July 30.
"Leave No Child Behind in the Fight Against Human Trafficking" is this year's theme.

According to Awhen, the worldwide campaign this year calls for swift action to put a stop to child trafficking.

He claims that minors make up a sizable share of trafficked victims globally, with girls being disproportionately affected.