The Jigawa State Command of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) has rescued 221 victims of human trafficking over the past two years.
The state commander, Mr. Abdulladir Turajo, disclosed this on Friday during a one-day sensitisation campaign against human trafficking held in Kazaure.
According to him, the victims were rescued and reunited with their families following the establishment of the command in July 2023.
Turajo further noted that the command secured two convictions and carried out 175 sensitisation programmes across communities, schools, worship centres, motor parks, and markets in the state during the same period.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the exercise was organised in collaboration with Jigawa State Ministry for Local Government and Community Development.
The campaign is part of the aggressive zonal grassroots sensitisation campaign for critical stakeholders in the 27 Local Government Areas (LGAs) of the state, to be conducted in three phases.
According to the commander, the programme will be conducted in three phases. The one held today (Friday) in Kazaure, being the first phase, is for 12 LGAs from Jigawa Northwest.
“The second will be conducted in Hadejia for the eight LGAs of Jigawa Northeast Zone, and the last in Dutse for the seven LGAs of Jigawa Southwest Zone, respectively.”
The commander further pointed out that the campaign was imperative due to the strategic location of the state, being one of the major international routes and recruitment grounds for human trafficking activities.
Turajo added that the initiative serves as an avenue to educate critical stakeholders in the state on the dangers and consequences associated with human trafficking.
“The Command wishes to use the programme to establish a partnership with the local communities for effective response against trafficking in persons in the local communities, through intelligence sharing and reporting of cases and incidents of trafficking from the local grassroots levels.”
While appreciating the Ministry for Local Government for sponsoring the programme, the commander also commended Gov. Umar Namadi for his support and interventions that have led to the overall success recorded by the agency in counter trafficking operations in the state.
Earlier, the Commissioner for Local Government, Mr Ibrahim Garba, reiterated the commitment of the state government to support the agency in its fight against human trafficking.
Garba, who was represented by the Director of Social Development in the ministry, Mahmud Mukaddas, called on the participants and other stakeholders to fully support NAPTIP in curbing the menace.
In his remarks, Mr Adamu Bashir, the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) Area Commander in charge of the zone, called on parents/guardians to watch over their children/wards to avoid being deceived by traffickers.
