The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) has successfully rescued four young girls from Akwa Ibom State who were trafficked to Mali and exploited for sexual purposes.
The operation according to NAPTIP’s Zonal Commander in Uyo, Emmanuel Awhen, was a collaborative effort with the Global Anti-Human Trafficking Organisation (GAHTO) based in Mali.
According to him “These young women endured significant hardship, but thanks to the swift intervention of NAPTIP and GAHTO, they are now safe and receiving necessary support and counseling to help them reintegrate into society,” Awhen stated, detailing the challenges involved in combating cross-border trafficking networks.
The successful rescue comes following the sentencing of Nigerian human trafficker Sandra Okon, also from Akwa Ibom, who received a 12-year prison term from the Boundiali Court in Côte d’Ivoire.
Ms Okon was implicated in organising trafficking networks that exploit young women in Mali and Côte d’Ivoire for forced labor and sexual exploitation.
The operation to rescue the girls reportedly began when one of the victims managed to use a borrowed phone to contact a NAPTIP official, alerting them to their location.
Commander Awhen said “Acting on this information, we collaborated with GAHTO to locate the girls and reunite them with their families in Akwa Ibom.”
The girls had been deceived with promises of work in a supermarket and salon but were instead coerced into forced labor and sexual exploitation. “One of the girls courageously sent voice notes, which aided us in coordinating with our international partners to ensure their safe return,” Awhen added.
The rescued girls revealed that over 50 other young women from Akwa Ibom remain trapped in Mali under similar conditions, forced into prostitution.
Awhen urged parents and guardians to remain vigilant against traffickers who entice young people with false promises of better opportunities abroad.
He also called on the State government and relevant stakeholders to bolster support for the fight against human trafficking in Nigeria.
