Kehinde Fajobi
The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) has announced the successful reunification of 1,200 trafficking victims with their families over the past year.
This achievement was highlighted in a three-year performance report for the period from September 2021 to September 2024, released in November 2024, covering the tenure of the agency’s former Director-General, Prof. Fatima Waziri-Azi.
From September 2023 to September 2024, NAPTIP facilitated the reunification of 1,198 victims across its national offices.
A significant portion of these reunifications occurred in 2024.
The agency’s rescue operations saw varying monthly trends, with notable peaks in July 2024, when 164 victims were rescued, the highest in the reporting period.
NAPTIP provided comprehensive support to victims, including shelter, legal aid, mental health counselling, and reintegration services, before facilitating their reunification with families.
From January 2022 to August 2024, NAPTIP secured 190 convictions for human trafficking, accounting for nearly 28% of the agency’s total convictions in its 21-year history.
This period also saw 20 convictions related to rape and domestic violence, representing over 74% of the agency’s total convictions in these categories since 2015.
High-profile cases included the life sentences of three offenders convicted of rape.
One notable case involved Felicia Osaigbovo, sentenced to 12 years in prison and fined ₦24 million for trafficking Nigerian girls to Belgium for sexual exploitation.
The former Director-General, Waziri-Azi, attributed these accomplishments to the agency’s strengthened collaboration with local and international partners.
She expressed pride in the survivors who bravely participated in the prosecution of offenders, stating, “These convictions are a testament to the agency’s unwavering commitment to justice.”
The report identified forced labour and sexual exploitation as the most common abuses faced by victims, with women accounting for 82% of the 1,114 victims exploited for these purposes. Traffickers often used deception, threats, and physical abuse to control their victims.
NAPTIP’s Public Relations Officer, Mr. Zack Dauda, expressed optimism for further convictions in the coming year.
“Since our return to the Ministry of Justice on October 20, 2023, we have aimed for more efficient justice delivery against perpetrators of trafficking,” he said, highlighting the benefits of the agency’s new position within the ministry for faster legal resolutions.