NAPTIP secures 624 convictions in 19 years

<p>Director General, National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), Professor Fatima Waziri-Azi, has said that the agency has so far secured 624 convictions since 2004 of which 80 were secured last year, the highest ever and 48 in 2023.</p>, <p>She made this known at an Anti-human Trafficking Awareness Walk themed ‘Footprints of Hope: A 20 Year Journey, in Abuja.</p>, <p>The DG said in terms of punishment for human traffickers, Nigeria has a very comprehensive Act enacted in 2003, the Trafficking in Persons Prohibition Enforcement and Administration Act provides for 22 different punishments covering issues of sexual exploitation, labour exploitation, child labour, trafficking of persons for organ removal, debt bondage, slavery and all slavery-like activities among others.</p>, <p>“In terms of our criminal justice system here in Nigeria, I will say NAPTIP has secured a total of 624 convictions since the first conviction was secured in 2004 and just last year, we were able to secure 80 convictions which is the highest in any single year since the inception of NAPTIP,” Waziri-Azi said.</p>, <p>“As at today in 2023, we have already secured 48 convictions and counting. So in terms of laws and policies, I will say that Nigeria is very well placed in dissuading traffickers and would be traffickers but then when you think of the enormity, I think we can do more in terms of prosecution and convictions.”</p>, <p>United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator, Matthias Schmale, pointed that 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.</p>, <p>Represented by the Deputy Representative of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, (UNODC), Nigeria, Danilo Campisi, he said “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 identifie