NAPTIP ‘convicts’ seven traffickers

The Benin Zonal Command of the National Agency for Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) said it secured seven convictions in 2017.

Its Commander, Mr Nduka Nwanwenne, told News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Benin yesterday that the convictions ranged from five to 14 years in prison.

He also said that 75 suspected traffickers were arrested, with about 3,000 victims rehabilitated.

Nwanwenne added that  500 victims were rescued within the period.

The zonal commander also said that about 30 cases were pending in court, and 40 cases under investigation.

He said the major challenges of the zone include denial of cases of human trafficking, family pressure on victims to go abroad as well as failure of victims to appear in court to testify.

Nwanwenne said empowerment of rescued and rehabilitated victims were capital-intensive and solicited assistance from well-meaning Nigerians and corporate organisations.

He, however, said that the command remained focused to end human trafficking.