Lucky Obukohwo Reporting
The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) has said that over 20,000 Nigerian girls are stranded in Mali.
The agency also raised the alarm that traffickers are now recruiting and trafficking young girls from Mali to Edo state for prostitution and exploitation.
The Commander, NAPTIP Benin zonal office, Bar. Nduka Nwawenene disclosed this during the 2023 world day against trafficking in persons with the theme “reach every victim of trafficking, leave no one behind.
He said that the event is supported by the United Nation High Commission for Refuges (UNCHR), International Organisation for Migration (IOM) among others
“We just gathered intelligence that traffickers trafficking young girls from Mali to Benin for prostitution, we are investigating. But many Nigerians, especially young girls are stranded in Mali, and over 20,000 Nigeria girls are stranded in Mali”.
He said, “Mali used to be a destination for girls trafficked from Nigeria but now the reverse is the case as Mali girls are being trafficked into Benin City for prostitution”
According to him victim rescued from Mali confessed that they make more money in Mali because Malian men will spent every thing they have to sleep with Nigeria Nigeria girls
Nduka said they incorporated the physically challenges persons especially the hearing impaired persons (deaf and dumb) in this year’s trafficking day because they are vulnerable to trafficking, adding that some of them have been recruited for trafficking.
‘Global crisis including economic difficulties, conflicts and climate change are escalating trafficking issues and problems. Also displacement and social economic inequalities are impacting on millions of people globally, leaving them vulnerable to exploitation by human traffickers.”
He said the agency under Prof. Fatima Waziri-Azi is making progress in area of conviction of high profile traffickers, sustained evidence based rehabilitation and empowerment of survivors, enhance awareness raising and sensitization as well as enhance visibility of the agency and its partners.
Nduka called all stakeholders to galvanise support towards addressing the menace of human trafficking and contribute to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), especially SDG 16 (1-3).
He said no fewer than 20,000 trafficked victims have been rescued while 624 traffickers have been convicted.
On her part, the Chairman, Joint National Association of Persons Living with Disabilities (JONAPWD), Ann Obehi Ojugo said persons with disability are vulnerable because of their specific nature of not having access to information.
“Most of the broadcast stations don’t use sign language interpreters to present issues of national interest, so if a deaf person is watching a programme on human trafficking, he or she can not understand.
She said people traffic persons with Disabilities from rural areas to the cities for exploration.
” So. I join my voice with NAPTIP to say stop trafficking person with disabilities. Stop recruiting young men and women with disabilities for exploitation and organ harvesting”