Nigeria: 258 human trafficking victims rescued in Jigawa

The Jigawa State Command of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) has reported significant successes in combating human trafficking. Over the past 18 months, the agency has rescued 258 individuals who were victims of trafficking and facilitated their reunion with their families. Additionally, 512 stranded indigenes of the state have been successfully repatriated from various countries abroad.

These developments coincide with the global commemoration of the World Day Against Trafficking in Persons. The state command, led by Commander Abdulkadir Turajo, highlighted that Jigawa remains a critical source and transit point for traffickers moving victims towards Europe and the Middle East. Since the command's establishment in July 2023, it has recorded 78 trafficking cases along the state's border with Niger Republic, secured two convictions, including one involving a foreign national, and facilitated the return of numerous individuals.

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Jigawa remains a source and major transit route for traffickers moving people to Europe and the Middle East.

Commander Turajo noted the evolving tactics of traffickers, who now employ deceptive methods such as fake job advertisements, scam compounds, and online fraud to lure vulnerable youths. This aligns with the global theme for the year, "Trapped Behind the Scam." He emphasized that human trafficking is a form of modern slavery, involving deception, debt bondage, and coercion to subject individuals to forced labor or slavery-like conditions. Turajo warned that this crime fuels corruption, irregular migration, terrorism, drug trafficking, and other organized criminal activities, while also damaging Nigeria's international image.

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Trafficking is modern slavery. It involves deception, debt bondage and force to put people into forced labour or slavery-like conditions.

To address the issue, NAPTIP has intensified its efforts, conducting six sensitization campaigns in Kazaure and Roni Local Government Areas, identified as high-risk trafficking zones. Over the past three years, more than 150 awareness programs have been held across schools, markets, mosques, churches, and communities throughout Jigawa's 27 local government areas. The agency has also established anti-trafficking and anti-violence vanguard units in selected schools to tackle the problem at the grassroots level.

Commander Turajo issued a stern warning to traffickers operating within or transiting through Jigawa, urging them to abandon their criminal activities. He also appealed to the public not to harbor traffickers or conceal victims, emphasizing the collective responsibility in combating this menace. Residents of Dutse acknowledged the timeliness and importance of these awareness campaigns amidst growing pressure on young people to seek opportunities abroad.

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The awareness campaign is timely, given the increasing pressure on young people to seek opportunities abroad.