TheCable

The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) says 80 Nigerian victims of trafficking have been rescued in Niger Republic.

Abdullahi Babale, north-west zonal commander of NAPTIP, disclosed this at a media briefing on Wednesday.

Babale said the rescued victims included 59 females and 21 males, who are between the ages of 16 and 35.

He explained that the victims were rescued by the police in Niger Republic on August 9.

According to him, the rescue operation was carried out when the NAPTIP joint border task force alerted the police in Niger Republic on the movement of the victims.

“On receiving the information, a special operation was coordinated in Niger Republic and 80 victims of human trafficking were rescued after crossing through illegal routes and bush via Mai’adua control post en route to Europe,” he said.

“Out of the 80 victims, 16 are from Ondo State, 16 from Lagos, one from Ekiti, nine from Ogun, eight from Oyo, two from Kogi, nine from Edo, four from Delta, nine from Osun, one from Benue, two from Kwara, and one each from Anambra, Akwa Ibom, and Rivers.”

Babale added that investigation is ongoing to arrest the main traffickers, and commended the Niger Republic police and the Nigeria Immigration Service for cooperating with NAPTIP operatives.

“It shows the collective efforts of both countries in providing better operational strategies to fight against human trafficking and migrants’ smuggling, which is now assuming alarming dimension globally, with higher prevalence among developing countries such as Nigeria and Niger,” he added.