Rita Odafe
NAPTIP has arrested 115 individuals suspected of human trafficking and rescued 75 victims in Akwa Ibom, Cross River, and Rivers states.
Mr. Emmanuel Awhen, the Zonal Commander of NAPTIP, revealed these numbers in an interview with NAN in Uyo.
This zone consists of Akwa Ibom, Cross River, and Rivers states.
“Between July 2023 and now, we’ve apprehended 115 human traffickers within the zone and rescued about 75 victims.
Out of the 75 rescued victims, 25 have been equipped with skills in tailoring, hairdressing, barbing, and shoemaking.
Most of the rescued victims are housed in shelters where they receive counseling, empowerment, and are eventually reunited with their families,” stated the NAPTIP commander.
During this period, NAPTIP brought 15 cases to court, resulting in three convictions, with 12 cases still pending.
The zonal commander urged judges to prioritize human trafficking cases to discourage potential traffickers.
He highlighted the prevalence of human trafficking victims being rescued in coastal areas.
“We appeal to the public that combating human trafficking requires the collective effort of all stakeholders, not just NAPTIP and the Federal Government.
