3 Nigerian human traffickers apprehended

By The Citizen

Luck has run out of three Nigerian human traffickers.

They were apprehended in Ghana and Cote d'Ivoire for trafficking 50 Nigerian girls for the purpose of working as sex slaves in the two countries.

They  are now undergoing interrogation at the National Agency for the Prohibition of Traffic In Persons (NAPTIP).

The Executive Secretary of NAPTIP, Mrs. Beatrice Jedy-Agba, said that 60 Nigerians had so far been rescued from both countries this year.

She spoke in Abuja on Wednesday while addressing journalists on the rescue mission,

Ten Nigerian girls were rescued from both Ghana and Cote d'Ivoire in July this year.

Jedy-Agba said the three Nigerians that were arrested were undergoing interrogation to determine the extent of their involvement in the crime.

Appropiate steps towards their prosecution will be taken to serve as deterrent to intending human traffickers, she said.

The NAPTIP boss revealed that the agency had commenced debriefing of the repatriated girls, while counseling and medical screening exercises were on-going for full process of rehabilitation and reintegration back to the society through their respective states of origin.

Mrs. Jedy-Agba, who spoke through the Director, Counseling and Rehabilitation, Mrs. Lilly Oguejiofor, explained that the agency would continue to widen its global contacts with a view to rescuing thousands of Nigerians who were still trapped in forced labour around the world.

She added: 'The challenge of human trafficking will require a heightened level of commitment and co-operation on the part of all Nigerians, the different tiers of government and development partners. Trafficking in persons poses a serious threat to the security of the nation and its wellbeing.

'The three tiers of government must take a holistic and coordinated rational approach to address pre-disposing factors such as poverty, unemployment, collapse of family values and the unchallenged erosion of our cultural values.'