The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) has rescued 19 girls believed to have been impregnated by a single man in Abuja. This was disclosed by Binta Bello, Director-General of NAPTIP, during a meeting with Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Chairperson of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), at NiDCOM’s headquarters in Abuja.
Bello praised NiDCOM’s continued support in the fight against human trafficking, highlighting their recent role in rescuing 231 young Nigerians from Ghana. She emphasized the critical need for collaboration among government agencies and stakeholders to strengthen efforts against trafficking and raise awareness across all sectors.
The 19 pregnant girls were rescued from an estate in Abuja last week, Bello revealed. She also mentioned the recent reception of nine girls from Côte d’Ivoire, underscoring the widespread nature of trafficking abuses. Bello commended NiDCOM’s engagement with Nigerians abroad and reaffirmed NAPTIP’s commitment to protecting victims’ rights and dignity.
In response, Dabiri-Erewa called for a coordinated national strategy involving all levels of government and society. She stressed that while progress has been made, traffickers must be publicly exposed to deter others. She urged enhanced cooperation between NAPTIP, NiDCOM, the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI), and other relevant agencies.
Dabiri-Erewa reiterated NiDCOM’s commitment to promoting safe migration and protecting vulnerable Nigerians from exploitation, affirming that efforts to rescue and rehabilitate victims will persist.
