The Director General, National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons, NAPTIP, Prof Fatima Waziri-Azi, has urged Nigerians not to be indifferent to every form of exploitation and should endeavour to report same. She stated this while addressing stakeholders during an awareness walk, with the theme: ‘Footprint of Hope: A 20- year Journey – Join NAPTIP on this historic Freedom Walk’, held in Abuja, on Monday.
The walk in which over 500 persons participated included partners, NGOs, youths and a state task force from different states that joined to raise awareness on the fight against human trafficking in Nigeria.
Her words: “When you see other people in exploitative situation, especially we know in Nigeria, we know domestic issues are widespread, please when you see a child in an exploitative situation, don’t make that exception of you wanting to mind your business, because as individuals we like to mind our business; But I can say that there is now heightened awareness, People are calling out and people are reporting and let me say this, don’t get involved.
“Don’t try to stop any situation because you’re putting yourself in harm’s way. What you should do rather, is reach out to NAPTIP, and the police, We have a 24 hours Call Center and Our toll free number is 0703000.”
“Yesterday actually was the 2023 world day against trafficking in persons, which we celebrated by going for a special mass, special prayers for not just NAPTIP but for Nigerians and also prayers for victims.
“This walk is something we do every year, it is not just a walk, it is an opportunity for us to sensitize the public and make noise about issues of human trafficking and to galvanise support for everyone to keep treating victims as victims and not the other way around” she added.
The United Nations Resident Coordinator, Mattias Schmale, in his address congratulated NAPTIP for being a bulwark against human trafficking in Nigeria, for two decades and promised their committed support
According to Schmale, Nigerians are one of the highest numbers of identified victims of trafficking in West Africa.
He also noted: “This year’s World Day Against Trafficking in Persons aims to raise awareness of disturbing developments and trends identified by the latest UNODC Global Report on Trafficking in Persons. The 2022 report informs us that 41% of West African victims are trafficked for sexual exploitation and 57% for forced labour. Nigerians represent by far the highest number of identified victims of trafficking in West Africa.
“Furthermore, the report shows a significant decrease in the number of Nigerian victims being identified and rescued in Western countries, while witnessing a significant increase in West Africa, the Gulf, and Asia.”
In his address to newsmen the founding President of Global Migration Research Institute, GMRI, and the Chairman of Universal Migration Enlightenment Center, Nigeria, Dr. Williams Azuma Ijoma, while stressing his commitment to legal migration, urged Nigerians to report cases in human trafficking if seen.
He, however, called for stiffer penalty for human traffickers while soliciting Federal Government’s effort in this regards.
END
