The Jigawa State Command of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) has rescued 221 victims of human trafficking within two years of its establishment.
The state commander, Abdulladir Turajo, disclosed this on Friday during a one-day sensitisation campaign against human trafficking held in Kazaure.
Turajo explained that the rescued victims had been reunited with their families since the command was established in July 2023. He further revealed that within the same period, the agency secured two convictions and carried out 175 sensitisation programmes across communities, schools, worship centres, motor parks, and markets in the state.
According to him, the event was organised in collaboration with the Jigawa State Ministry for Local Government and Community Development as part of a broader zonal sensitisation campaign for key stakeholders across the state’s 27 local government areas.
“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,” Turajo explained.
He described the campaign as crucial due to Jigawa’s strategic location, noting that the state serves as “one of the major international routes and recruitment grounds for human trafficking activities.”
Turajo added that the sensitisation was aimed at educating critical stakeholders about the dangers and consequences of human trafficking.
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“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,” he stated.
He also appreciated the Ministry for Local Government for sponsoring the event and commended Governor Umar Namadi for his continued support and interventions that have contributed to NAPTIP’s achievements in combating trafficking in the state.
Speaking earlier, the Commissioner for Local Government, Ibrahim Garba, reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to supporting NAPTIP in its fight against human trafficking.
Garba, who was represented by the Director of Social Development in the ministry, Mahmud Mukaddas, urged participants and stakeholders to “fully support NAPTIP in curbing the menace.”
In his remarks, Adamu Bashir, the Nigeria Immigration Service Area Commander for the zone, advised parents and guardians to keep a close watch on their children and wards to prevent them from falling prey to traffickers.