Dr. Fatima Waziri-Azi, the Director-General of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), has revealed that a total of 487 persons have been convicted for trafficking of young Nigerian girls and boys for sexual exploitation and hard labour.
Waziri-Azi spoke on Thursday in Abuja at her maiden news conference, where she declared a 24 hours hands-on-deck approach to fighting against cartels involved in human trafficking in the country.
She hailed the decision of the United Nations to delist the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) from armed groups recruiting children as soldiers in the North East.
“The conviction of 487 offenders since the inception of NAPTIP in 2003 was commendable, especially with the difficulties and challenges in the prosecution of a clandestine crime like trafficking in persons, “It is clearly not enough and we must do more in that direction.
“In as much as we shall continue to arrest and prosecute all offenders, our greater emphasis shall be on those high-profile traffickers,” she said.
Waziri-Azi outlined a 4-point strategic priority for diligent implementation in line with the 5Ps strategies of the Agency that is; policy, prevention, protection, prosecution, and partnership.
She vowed to go after the high-profile traffickers to arrest and prosecute all the offenders and in collaboration with other partners and destination countries recover and return all illicit assets.
The DG recalled that Nigeria had attained the Tier 1 status in the United States ranking of countries’ compliance to the minimum standards in the fight against human trafficking (US Department of State Trafficking Report).
She, however, noted that in recent years, the country has had to slide away from Tier 1 to Tier 2, then to Tier 2 Watch list and this year back to Tier 2, due to the Federal Government’s increasing efforts considering the impact of COVID 19 on its anti-trafficking efforts, compared to previous years.
She revealed that the criminals now use fake job advertorials and unfounded scholarships abroad to lure their victims, all aimed at swindling unsuspecting members of the public and ultimately trafficking some for various forms of exploitation.
“The criminal enterprises have shifted significantly from the old-time physical recruitment procedures to virtual recruitment through virtual assessment of victims, proxy negotiations and administration of the oath of secrecy even at the destination countries and electronic transfer of proceeds of this illicit trade.
“The report further states that the government did not meet the minimum standards in several key areas including where members of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CTF) in Borno State used two children at an IDP Camp checkpoint.
“However, on the 18th of this month, the United Nations delisted the Civilian Joint Task Force (CITF) from armed groups recruiting children as soldiers in the North East.
“This is a positive step towards child’s protection which shows that we are making progress in getting back to where we should be and it is my mission to work with all relevant stakeholders and ensure safety for all our people, especially the vulnerable ones.
“With the judicious application of the rule of law, we are determined to stop them at all cost by applying 24 hours on hands-on-deck approach and ensuring that the proceeds of their criminal activities are forfeited for the benefit of the real owners (the Victims),” she said.
