The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) has announced the successful rescue of 19 girls believed to have been impregnated by a single perpetrator in Abuja.
This revelation was made by Binta Bello, NAPTIP’s Director-General, during a meeting with Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Chairperson of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), at the agency’s headquarters in Abuja on Friday.
Bello expressed her appreciation for the support provided by NiDCOM, particularly in the recent repatriation of 231 young Nigerians from Ghana.
She underscored the importance of a collaborative approach in tackling human trafficking, stressing the necessity for enhanced public awareness across all sectors.
“Last week, we rescued 19 girls, all expecting children from one man, in an estate in Abuja. Additionally, we received nine girls from Côte d’Ivoire, among other distressing cases,” she stated.
Bello praised the commission’s efforts in connecting with Nigerians abroad and reaffirmed her commitment to fortifying the partnership between NiDCOM and NAPTIP.
She assured that the agency would persist in safeguarding the rights and dignity of Nigerians against trafficking.
Dabiri-Erewa advocated for a comprehensive government and societal response to combat human trafficking in Nigeria.
While acknowledging the progress achieved, she emphasised that further action is needed and proposed that traffickers should be publicly identified and condemned as a deterrent to others.
She highlighted that NAPTIP cannot operate in isolation and called for closer cooperation with NiDCOM, the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI), and other relevant agencies.
“We remain committed to doing our utmost to protect these vulnerable individuals and promote safe and regulated migration routes,” she concluded.
