NAPTIP

NAPTIP evacutes 93 Nigerians from Mali over prostitution
No fewer than 93 Nigerians were evacuated from Mali by the National Agency for the Prohibition of Traffic in Persons (NAPTIP), for prostitution and other related matters.
Beatrice Jedy-Agba, the Executive Secretary of NAPTIP, said at a briefing that nine traffickers were also arrested with the support of the Malian authorities.
Jedy-Agba said the agency moved into action when it discovered that Nigerians were holding fellow Nigerians in slavery for prostitution in Mali.
She said NAPTIP during the raid discovered that some of the brothels housed young Nigerians between the ages of 14 years and 17 years.
According to her, the operation to rescue the victims from Mali is necessitated by the numerous disturbing reports from a variety of sources as the girls are used as sex slaves.
She said the agency would ensure that the victim were rehabilitated before sending them back to their states of origin
Jedy-Agba added that any of the victims, who did not wish to return to their states would be adequately taken care of.
The executive secretary said that the nine suspected traffickers repatriated with the girls were being interrogated, adding that the agency would take steps to prosecute them to serve as a deterrent to others.
Jedy-Agba listed the trafficking route to include Lagos-Cotonou, Sokoto-Bori Koni in Niger, Kano-Saudi Arabia, Nigeria Morocco, among others.
She said that trafficking in persons posed a threat to the security of a nation and its well being, adding that if the crime must be eradicated it needed all hands to be on the deck.
``In order to tackle the growing menace, there is a need to take a holistic and coordinated national approach to address predisposition factors.
``Such factors include poverty, ignorance, unemployment and the gradual erosion of our cultural values,'' she said.
According to her, our action or self-denial will not only accelerate the frightening dimensions of this crime but also make the menace invincible.
``Beyond mere bringing these victims back, it is important to note that they must be rehabilitated, empowered and reintegrated back to the society.
``This is in line with the national policy on protection and assistance to victims of traffickers,'' she said.
The victims were from 17 of the 36 states in Nigeria.
Edo had the highest number with 49, Delta 27, Imo five, Akwa-Ibom four, Anambra three, while Lagos and Rivers had two each with the remaining states having one each.