TheCable

The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), says its zonal office in Edo state rescued more than 100 victims of human trafficking in 2023.

Nduka Nwanwenne, NAPTIP’s zonal commander, spoke on Friday while presenting business starter packs to three survivors of human trafficking.

Nwanwenne said empowerment is part of the agency’s strategies for survivors to be reintegrated into society and earn a living.

“We have many survivors to be empowered, but we have to empower these three first,” NAN quoted him as saying.

“We gave them sewing machines so that they could be engaged and would be able to give evidence in court against their traffickers.”

He said the empowerment of the three survivors was critical because two of them had babies while the third is pregnant.

“We believe that when they have a means of livelihood, they will not be vulnerable to trafficking,” he said.

Nwanwenne said the survivors were trafficked to Germany, Russia and Mali where they were exploited by their traffickers for years.

He said the agency is currently prosecuting more than 64 traffickers in various courts in Edo and Delta states.