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The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) said it has rescued over 18,000 victims across the country from 2004 till date.
The agency said it has also secured the conviction of more than 500 traffickers.
Nduka Nwawene, Uyo zonal commander of the agency made the disclosure in Calabar on Thursday, in commemoration of this year’s World Day Against Trafficking in Persons.
July 30 was declared by the United Nation as World Day Against Trafficking in Persons to raise awareness on the plight of trafficked victims across the world.
The theme of this year’s commemoration is “Committed to the Cause, Working on the Frontline to End Human Trafficking”, which focuses on the efforts of first responders.
Nwawene disclosed at the event that women and girls constituted over 70 percent of trafficked victims in Nigeria and the world, hence, the importance of the commemoration to raise awareness.
“Nigeria is a source, transit and destination country for traffickers and has been very much affected by this malaise, both internally and externally,” he said.
“Even during the lockdown, victims who were Europe-bound were rescued by first responders and brought to our command.
“People claim they want to travel abroad because of the poverty here, believing that they can pluck gold on the streets of Europe.
“But they are deceived by the traffickers because they are smuggled out and over there, they discover a different scenario and become slaves.
“Other reasons why people get trafficked include ignorance, peer group influence, globalisation and even family pressure.
“If not for NAPTIP and sister agencies like the Nigeria Immigration Service, Nigeria Police, ministry of women affairs, and others, the situation of trafficking in the country would have been more terrible.”
The Uyo zonal commander further advised parents to be vigilant and avoid putting pressure on their children, so that no one would fall victim to the antics of traffickers.
He said traffickers usually compel their victims not to tell anybody or take them to shrines to take oaths of secrecy.
“Parents must also stop mounting pressure on their children to travel out and endanger their lives so as to send money back home,” he said.
“Because of the family pressure, many of them end up as sex slaves in all sorts of dehumansing conditions. If we get any of such parents, they will be prosecuted.”
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