Lagos, Nigeria – The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) has disclosed that a staggering number of 25,000 trafficked Nigerian women and girls are currently held captive in Mali. The revelation was made by Nduka Nwanwenne, the commander of the Benin zone of NAPTIP, during a workshop held for media professionals in Lagos on Tuesday.
Nwanwenne highlighted the reasons behind the alarming trend, stating that investigations conducted by NAPTIP revealed that these victims were lured by Malian men who were known to spend more money on women compared to their Nigerian counterparts. Another significant factor contributing to the exploitation is the pride Malian men derive from having relationships with women from Nigeria, often referred to as the “giant of Africa.”
Providing further insight into NAPTIP’s efforts, the zonal commander shared that the agency has successfully convicted 604 human traffickers and apprehended over 9,102 suspected traffickers from 2004 to May 2023. Moreover, NAPTIP has rescued approximately 20,660 Nigerian victims of human trafficking during this period. The rescued individuals undergo rehabilitation at NAPTIP’s shelter facilities.
Nwanwenne reported that a total of 12,291 cases were reported to the agency during the specified timeframe, illustrating the scale of the problem. In response to this distressing situation, the director-general of NAPTIP, Fatima Waziri-Azi, emphasized the importance of the workshop in raising awareness among media professionals about the grave issue of human trafficking. The workshop aimed to shed light on the dangers associated with trafficking, highlight the challenges faced by protection officers, and underscore the critical role of the judiciary in addressing these cases.
NAPTIP, established on July 14, 2003, operates under the Trafficking in Persons (Prohibition) Enforcement and Administration Act. The agency is committed to combating human trafficking and protecting victims, and workshops such as this play a vital role in fostering greater public understanding and cooperation in the fight against this heinous crime.
