The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) says it incepted and rescued 104 victims of human trafficking who were on their way to Europe enroute Libya within the last two weeks.
This is contained in a statement issued by Mr Vincent Adekoye of the Press and Public Relations Unit of NAPTIP on Tuesday in Abuja.
The statement quoted the agency’s Director General, Sen. Basheer Mohammed, as saying that the operatives of NAPTIP carried out the task in its renewed effort to truncate activities of human traffickers in the country.
According to him, eight suspected human traffickers were also arrested in the process, while efforts is on to apprehend other members of the trafficking syndicates who are at large.
The director-general disclosed that regional directors, zonal commanders and state commanders had been given a matching order on effective surveillance within their areas of operation as a renewed fight against traffickers.
He added that the surveillance order was also to forestall recruitment and trafficking of Nigerians for any purpose, and tasked the commanders to scale up their sensitisation and awareness activities.
Mohammed said that the sensitisation and awareness was to reduce the vulnerability of the people and expose the antics of human traffickers.
“The victims were on transit from Ondo, Ekiti, Delta, Anambra, Edo, Osun, Kogi, Akwa Ibom, Kwara, Ogun and Lagos States enroute to Rivers, Oyo, Osun, Delta and Ogun States then to Euroupe via Libya.
“On receiving the information, a special operation was coordinated by NAPTIP Joint Border Task Force in collaboration with Katsina State Police Command.
“No matter where the traffickers go to deceive and recruit victims, they will always meet us at the exit point. Their field days in the illicit business of human trafficking and child labour are over.
“We are determined to run them out of business and even send them to jail unless they desist from their nefarious activities and find other legitimate venture to engage in.
“I wish to appeal to parents to desist from giving out their children for any unclear or unverified adventure. It is important to contact NAPTIP when confronted with juicy offer of help.
“Do not sell your children into slavery. I commended other sister law enforcement agencies for their collaboration with NAPTIP which has resulted in the arrest of suspects and rescue of the victims,” the statement read in part. (NAN)