The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) has reported significant progress in combating human trafficking in Nigeria. In 2024, the Kano Zonal Command rescued 285 victims and arrested 22 human traffickers. The rescued victims included 78 males, 97 females, and 110 children, with ages ranging from 7 to 42 years.
The NAPTIP also secured 15 convictions, including one foreign national, and carried out 88 sensitization programs to raise awareness about human trafficking. Additionally, the agency profiled 720 migrants who returned from the Niger Republic, providing them with support and rehabilitation services.
Nigeria is a source, transit, and destination country for human trafficking, with many victims being trafficked to countries like Italy, where about 21,000 Nigerian women and girls have been trafficked since 2015. The Nigerian government has taken steps to combat human trafficking, including the establishment of NAPTIP and the passage of the Trafficking in Persons (Prohibition) Law Enforcement and Administration Act.
Key Statistics:
- 285 victims rescued by NAPTIP in 2024
- 22 human traffickers arrested by NAPTIP in 2024
- 15 convictions secured by NAPTIP in 2024
- 21,000 Nigerian women and girls trafficked to Italy since 2015
- 88 sensitization programs carried out by NAPTIP in 2024
Source: Punch
