Juliet Jacob Ochenje
The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP)says it rescued 470 victims of human trafficking in Katsina in 2023.
Speaking on Saturday with newsmen, the NAPTIP Commander in the state, Mr. Musa Aliyu, revealed that within the period under review, the command arrested and convicted four human traffickers.
He said: “We received 25 cases of human trafficking and two cases of Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP).
“In 2023, the command rescued 470 victims of human trafficking, and reunited them with their respective families,” he said.
According to him, the command is expecting some rehabilitation items from the NAPTIP headquarters to enable it to rehabilitate trafficked victims.
He disclosed that NAPTIP, in collaboration with the International Centre for Migration on Policy Development (ICMPD), organised a series of sensitisation for border communities.
“We also carried out sensitisation programmes in conjunction with the Katsina government, for Religious and Traditional leaders, and also for youths in Mai’adua, Baure and Mashi Local Government Areas,” he said.
Aliyu explained that the command, through the ICMPD, was able to conduct free medical treatment for 80 victims of human trafficking.
He pointed out that medical outreach had become necessary to address issues of trauma and sexual exploitation of victims of human trafficking.
