The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons has apprehended and announced the arrest of 155 suspected human traffickers in Akwa Ibom, Cross River, and Rivers states and rescued 75 victims in the listed states.
Emmanuel Awhen, the zonal commandant of NAPTIP representing south-south, disclosed the figures in a recent interview with newsmen in Uyo, Akwa Ibom state.
He explained that the current figures comprised of the arrests made by the organization between July 2023 and July 2024 in the south-south states of the country. He explained that the arrest has led to the successful rescue of 75 victims who have been trafficked to different locations in the country.
The zonal commandant further explained that from the 75 victims rescued, the agency has empowered 25 of them in different skill sets such as tailoring, hairdressing, barbing, and shoe making to give them what to return to in their respective localities.
He noted that after the rescue, most of the rescued victims were kept on the agency’s premises, where they were taken care of during their training. He explained that the victims were reunited with their respective families after acquiring the skills.
Mr Emmanuel further explained that during the 12-month period, the organization took 15 suspects to court; he noted that three convictions were secured while twelve were still pending.
While speaking on the speed of the trials on convictions, the commandant appeals to court judges to give special attention to cases involving human trafficking according to convictions will serve as a warning sign to others who have the motive of going into the act.
The commandant appealed for a collective effort to stop the deadly act of trafficking persons in the country, he explained that work can only be successful if stakeholder and all individuals provides the agency with useful assistance and information regarding the act.
He further explained that sensitizing victims in rural areas has become difficult in recent times because of the high financial burden involved in the process; speaking on taking care of victims, the zonal commandant noted that feeding the individuals has been a difficult task for the agency, which requires support from different individuals in society.
He explained that most times, children taken by relatives for jobs in towns and cities are subjected to child labour and prostitution; he advised parents not to be deceived by the antics of looking for greener pastures by relatives to allow their child to be subjected to irresponsible acts.
The commandant warned that any individual found in the act of tracking persons would be treated according to the stipulations of the country’s laws; he urged all individuals to avoid every act depicting human trafficking and illegality in the country.
He concluded by noting that the number of children in the act of trafficking in the country has formed a significant number. At the same time, women have continued to become victims on several occasions.
It was learnt that World Day Against Trafficking is celebrated every year on the 30th of July, with this year’s theme speaking about the need to carry every child along to end the menace of trafficking. “Leave No Child Behind in the Fight Against Human Trafficking.”
