The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons, NAPTIP, says it has rescued 132 victims of human trafficking in Akwa Ibom State since the beginning of 2020.
The Director-General of the agency, Dame Julie Okah-Donli, disclosed this during an interaction with newsmen in Uyo on Thursday.
She said 40 of the victims were rescued from sexual exploitation, 28 from baby sellers, 23 from labour exploiters, while others were rescued for sundry exploitation issues.
According to her, the ages of the rescued victims ranged from five months to 34 years.
“The overall objective of the task force is the coordination and reactivation of technical inter-agency cooperation meetings with key stakeholders.
”They include donors, development partners, law enforcement agencies, MDAs and NGOs to enhance the capacities of state and non-state actors as well as multi-sectoral response towards improving partnerships.
“These partnerships are aimed at the prevention of human trafficking, protection of victims of human trafficking, offer access to justice for victims of trafficking, prosecution of traffickers.
”The partnership is also aimed at enhancing the process of successful restoration of victims of trafficking to the state of physical, psychological, social, vocational and economic well being,’’ she said.
The NAPTIP DG also commended the Nigerian Navy and other security agencies in the state for their continuous assistance to the agency in combating human trafficking.
