The Kano office of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) has reported rescuing 285 individuals and detaining 22 suspected human traffickers in 2024.
Zonal Commander Abdullahi Babale shared this update in Kano on Thursday, explaining that the rescued individuals comprised 78 men, 97 women, and 110 children—64 boys and 46 girls—aged between seven and 42 years.
Of those rescued, 53 were confirmed victims of human trafficking, while 232 had suffered from sexual abuse, gender-based violence, and other forms of maltreatment.
Babale emphasized that the victims underwent counselling and rehabilitation and were later reunited with their families.
Additionally, 52 of them were equipped with empowerment kits to aid their reintegration.
Regarding the arrests, Babale disclosed that the 22 suspects included eight men and 14 women.
He also highlighted that the command dealt with 211 cases related to both domestic and cross-border human trafficking.
These cases encompassed offences such as child abuse, forced labour, sexual exploitation, and violations under the Violence Against Persons Prohibition Act.
The command secured 15 convictions within the year, including one foreign national.
Those convicted consisted of 13 men and two women.
Babale further noted that NAPTIP carried out 88 public sensitization efforts through media platforms, schools, community engagements, and advocacy visits, focusing on the dangers of human trafficking and abuse.
Additionally, the agency processed 720 returnees from the Niger Republic, who had left Nigeria in pursuit of better opportunities.
Babale called for increased collaboration among stakeholders to tackle human trafficking and advised Nigerians against undertaking risky overseas journeys.
He urged parents to safeguard their children from exploitation and encouraged citizens to report suspected trafficking incidents within their communities.
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