The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons(NAPTIP) and Jigawa State Police Command, on Friday confirmed rescuing of 221 victims of human trafficking in the state in two years.
The agency’s Commander in the state, Mr Abdulladir Turajo, who made this disclosure while speaking during a one-day sensitisation campaign against human trafficking in Kazaure on Friday, said the victims were rescued and reunited with their respective families after the establishment of the command in July 2023.
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.
Turajo, also disclosed that, within the period, the agency recorded two convictions and conducted 175 sensitisation programmes in various communities, schools, places of worship, motor parks and markets across the state.
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.”
Turajo 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.
The State NANTIP commander 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.
The state Commissioner for Local Government, Mr Ibrahim Garba, earlier in his own remarks, 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.
