JUST IN: 21,000 Trafficking Victims Rescued Over Two Decades, Reports NAPTIP

The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) has reported that it successfully rescued and assisted 21,181 victims of human trafficking over a span of 20 years. The Director General of NAPTIP, Prof. Fatima Waziri-Azi, shared this information during her appearance before the Senate Committee on Social Duties to defend the agency’s 2024 budget.

Waziri-Azi emphasized the commitment of NAPTIP to providing ongoing support to victims for as long as necessary, acknowledging that this process requires both time and financial resources. The agency offers a range of support services, including legal and medical assistance, rehabilitation, and reintegration support.

Providing a breakdown of recent efforts, Waziri-Azi revealed that in 2022, NAPTIP rescued and assisted 2,748 victims, marking a significant increase from the previous year. From January to November 2023, the agency had already rescued and supported 2,200 victims. Notably, the shelter in Lagos received the highest number of victims, followed by facilities in Katsina, Kano, and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

Waziri-Azi highlighted the agency’s success in securing convictions for human trafficking cases, noting that they obtained 80 convictions in the previous year, the highest in a single year since its inception. In 2023, they had already secured 63 convictions. She also mentioned the extradition of a high-profile trafficker, Charity Omoye, to Italy to serve a 13-year sentence, which was a collaborative effort with the Federal Ministry of Justice, Interpol, and the Italian government.

While commending the increased visibility and activities of NAPTIP, Waziri-Azi acknowledged the growing challenges, including a rise in human trafficking complaints. She revealed that in 2022, the agency received 1,462 human trafficking complaints, a 31.9% increase from the previous year, placing significant strain on their human and financial resources.

Addressing budgetary concerns, she stated that the 2023 budget allocated a total of N2 billion to NAPTIP, while the 2024 projection aimed for N3 billion in total revenue. However, she emphasized the agency’s reliance on donor organizations for operational activities, stressing that such dependency is not sustainable.

The chairman of the Senate Committee, Senator Shehu Kaka, expressed the committee’s commitment to conducting an oversight visit to NAPTIP offices for an on-the-spot assessment of its activities. He also pledged efforts to address budgetary allocations to the organization, recognizing its vital role in society.