NAPTIP rescued 5,675 victims in eight years

The National Agency for Prohibition of Traffic in Persons and Other Related Matters has rescued no fewer than 5,675 victims of human trafficking and labour in the last eight years, with 132 convicted out of 531suspected traffickers within the period.NAPTIPs database analysis showed that 328 persons were rescued as at September, 2011 with 35 suspects convicted in October out of 68 suspects that were on trial in August.The data showed that 73 victims including 15 males and 58 females were rescued in 2004; 341 (61 males and 280 females) in 2005; 363 (40 males and 323 females) in 2006; 1,004 (330 males and 674 females) in 2007; 1,269 (333 males and 936 females) in 2008; 1,250 (419 males and 831 females) in 2009; 1,047 (220 males and 827 females) in 2010; and 328 (97 males and 231 females) as at August, 2011.A further breakdown of the data showed that 2,802 of the rescued persons fell between ages one and 17; 2,530 between ages 18 and 27; and 343 were in 28 and above age range.Meanwhile, the number of suspected traffickers was 45 in 2004, with one convicted; 85 in 2005, with four convicted; 79 in 2006, with four convicted; 36 in 2007, with seven convicted; 58 in 2008, with 25 convicted; 87 in 2009, with 26 convicted; 73 in 2010, with 30 convicted; and 68 as at August 2011, with 35 convicted.The Head of Communications and Media, NAPTIP, Onakwe Arinze, told SUNDAY PUNCH that the agency ensured proper rehabilitation of the evacuees, some of whom, he said, were in bad conditions from various forms of maltreatment.He said, Each time we rescue them (human traffic victims), we put them in rehabilitation centres in their home states. NAPTIP gives scholarships to those who want to go to school, while those who are not interested in formal education are engaged in skill acquisition programmes with the provision of a take-off grant after their graduation.Arinze identified low moral standards, lack of social value, high poverty level and inadequate infrastructure in the education sector as some causes of child labour and human trafficking.
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