CSO Commends NAPTIP for Rescuing 24 Trafficked Victims in Abuja

The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons, NAPTIP, has rescued 24 victims of human trafficking and arrested five suspected traffickers in Abuja.

The operation drew praise from the Network Against Child Trafficking, Abuse and Labour Nigeria, NACTAL, which described the rescue as an important step in protecting vulnerable people from abuse and exploitation.

NACTAL, a coalition of more than 150 non-governmental organisations across Nigeria, issued a statement through its National President, Abdulganiyu Abubakar, on Thursday in Sokoto.

The group said the latest operation shows NAPTIP’s commitment to tackling the crimes of trafficking and forced labour, which continue to strip many victims of their freedom and rights.

The statement also urged NAPTIP to ensure speedy prosecution of the suspects to secure justice for the rescued victims. Abubakar referred to an ongoing case in Sokoto involving a young victim named Bashariya, stressing that delays in trials often discourage survivors and embolden offenders.

NACTAL pledged to continue working closely with NAPTIP, government agencies, and international partners to strengthen efforts against trafficking in Nigeria and across borders.

The group also restated its role as Nigeria’s representative in the West African Coalition Against Trafficking in Persons and Smuggling, where it supports regional strategies to stop traffickers and protect victims.

Nigeria is still regarded as a major trafficking hub in West Africa, with many victims being moved for sexual exploitation, domestic slavery, forced labour, and smuggling across borders.

Data from NAPTIP’s 2023 report showed that more than 2,000 people were rescued that year, many of them intercepted while being moved to Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East.

In April 2024, NAPTIP secured convictions of three traffickers in Abuja, while in June 2024, 34 victims, mostly women, were rescued from traffickers in Lagos. The agency has also identified Edo, Delta, Kano, Sokoto, and Ogun States as high-risk areas where trafficking routes are active.

Over the years, NAPTIP has worked with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, the International Organisation for Migration, and the ECOWAS Commission to fight trafficking on a wider scale.

Civil society organisations like NACTAL believe that such cooperation, combined with swift justice, will strengthen protection for survivors and weaken the networks of traffickers.