FG to Prosecute Traffickers and Parents of Victims

The Federal Government has announced plans to prosecute parents and transporters involved in human trafficking in Nigeria.

Minister of Women Affairs, Mrs. Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye, made this disclosure in Abuja during a courtesy visit to Fatima Waziri-Azi, the Director-General of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP).

Kennedy-Ohanenye emphasized that prosecuting traffickers and their collaborators, including parents, would significantly reduce the prevalence of human trafficking. She expressed concern over the rising involvement of parents in these crimes, noting that those found guilty will face severe legal consequences.

“Our children deserve love and care, not to be traded. The President Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led Administration is committed to eradicating such heinous crimes, which violate both our African culture and global norms,” she asserted.

The Minister called for stronger collaboration with NAPTIP to gather information on Nigerian girls trafficked to Ghana for prostitution and related abuses. She assured that the Ministry, in partnership with the Open University of Nigeria, will support the educational pursuits of rescued girls by providing subsidized tuition fees and other benefits.

Responding to the Minister’s comments, Waziri-Azi confirmed that the trafficked girls have been rescued and their abductors apprehended. She stated that the girls would soon return to Nigeria for rehabilitation and reintegration into society.

Waziri-Azi highlighted that NAPTIP, in collaboration with the Ministry, will implement a systematic approach to prevent future trafficking incidents.

In a related development, Kennedy-Ohanenye had earlier visited the Ghanaian High Commission in Nigeria to obtain updated information on the status of the trafficked girls.

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