41% Of W’Africans Trafficked For Sex- NAPTIP
Director General, National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), Prof. Fatima Waziri-Azi, has disclosed that the agency, since 2004, secured 624 convictions.
The Director General noted that in terms of punishment for human traffickers, Nigeria has the comprehensive Trafficking in Persons Prohibition Enforcement and Administration Act, which provides punishment for sexual exploitation, labour exploitation, child labour, trafficking of persons for organ removal, debt bondage, slavery etc.
She explained: “In terms of our criminal justice system in Nigeria, I will say NAPTIP has secured a total of 624 convictions, since the first was achieved in 2004. And just last year, we were able to secure 80 convictions, which were the highest in any single year, since the inception of NAPTIP.
“As of today, in 2023, we have already secured 48 convictions and counting. So, in terms of laws and policies, Nigeria is very well placed in dissuading traffickers and would-be-traffickers.”
Waziri-Azi, however, added: “But when you think of the enormity, I think we can do more in terms of prosecution and conviction.” Also, United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator, Matthias Schmale, noted that this year’s World Day against Trafficking in Persons aims to raise awareness on disturbing developments and trends identified by the latest United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) Global Report on Trafficking in Persons.
Represented by Deputy Representative of UNODC, Nigeria, Danilo Campisi, he said: “The 2022 report informs us that 41 per cent of West African victims are trafficked for sexual exploitation and 57 per cent for forced labour. Nigerians represent, by far, the highest number of identified victims of trafficking in West Africa.
“Furthermore, the report shows a significant decrease in the number of Nigerian victims being identified and rescued in Western countries, while showing a significant increase in West Africa, the Gulf, and Asia.”
