HUMAN TRAFFICKING : 550 TRAFFICKERS JAILED, 17,000 VICTIMS RESCUED, TRAINED. We will go tougher on offenders as we apply the laws stringently . . . NAPTIP.

By Mike ALADENIKA.

The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) has vowed to redouble it's efforts, strategy and modus with the intention of making Nigeria a Human Trafficking free country. 

The Director General,  National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), SENATOR BASHEER GARBA MUHAMMED who stated this in Abuja during an interactive session with the media said "an improved synergy and collaboration with stakeholders and partners would be initiated as well as existing operational modus will be improved upon". 

Senator Basheer Garba Muhammed who was represented by  the Director, Legal and Prosecution, Mr. Hassan Tahir said while the agency is currently studying the 2020 United States Trafficking in Persons (TIP) report which elevated Nigeria from the previous Tier 2 Watch list to Tier 2 ranking list then disclosed that "As you all may have heard and read, Nigeria has now been upgraded to the Tier 2 list in the just released US 2021 TIP Report. While we have commenced clinical diagnosis of the report with a view to noting areas of improvement, the Agency shall continue to work assiduously with all partners and Stakeholders towards the fulfilment of the required minimum standards in the mitigation of human trafficking in the Country". 

According to a statement issued in Abuja by the Head, Press/Public Relation, Stella Nezan, "the Agency has continued to rescue, counsel, rehabilitate and empower victims of human trafficking in line with its mandates, traffickers and other sundry offenders are no more having it pleasant as the Agency has continued to smoke them out and prosecute them. As at last count, over 550 traffickers have been jailed with many cases at various prosecution stages in Courts across the Country. Over 17,000 victims have been rescued and a good number of them trained and empowered.

“As a way of boosting the operations of the Agency, NAPTIP has increased its presence and spread to over 12 States and still counting. Our desire is to infiltrate all parts of the Country in order to outsmart the traffickers and beat them to their tricks”. He said.

The NAPTIP Director General however  disclosed that the agency has scheduled a weeklong event which will feature the unveiling of some landmark projects by the Agency in collaboration with some partners.

He said, “In addition to the above scheduled activities, there will be some notable spotlight events on Friday 30thJuly, namely: the unveiling of two projects to be implemented by the UNODC. They are “Strengthening Nigeria’s Criminal Justice Response to Trafficking in Persons and Smuggling of Migrants - PROMIS” project supported by The Netherlands and “Strengthening Trans-Regional Action and Responses against the Smuggling of Migrants – STARSOM” project supported by Canada”

’’ We will also be launching the Harmonised Screening and Reporting Tools for identification of Victims of Human Trafficking developed with the support of the IOM.”, Senator Garba Muhammed said.

The theme for the 2021 World Day Against Human Trafficking is: ‘’Victims’ Voices Lead the Way’’.

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