ENUGU: The National Agency for the Prohibition of Traffic in Persons (NAPTIP) has recorded over 1,000 convictions nationwide since its inception in 2003.
Mr Jonathan Ukpai, NAPTIP Zonal Commander, disclosed this on Wednesday during a march against trafficking in Enugu.
The event, which was entitled “Anti Human Trafficking Awareness Campaign in commemoration of the 2025 World Day Against Trafficking,” was organised in collaboration with a Non-Governmental Organisation, Youth Child Support Initiative (YCSI).
The programme was funded by the Government of the Netherlands and implemented by the International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD).
Calling for an end to child trafficking, Ukpai said that NAPTIP had been at the forefront of the investigation, arrest, and prosecution of persons who were involved in human trafficking.
Ukpai, represented by the Head Legal and Prosecution Unit of NAPTIP, Vivienne Ngene, added that the agency had devised different strategies and means to address the areas of human trafficking across the country.
He said, “We should end exploitation of our children now, and this is a message to everybody that NAPTIP is still alive and is watching whoever will be involved in the issue of human trafficking, adding, “Enugu State Government has been supportive against human trafficking.”
Subsequently, the road walk, which started at the Onu Asata area of Enugu State, ended at the Ministry of Children, Gender Affairs and Social Development, Enugu.
Speaking during the exercise, the Executive Director of YCSI, Dr Ijeoma Nnaji, stated that the walk aimed to raise awareness about trafficking in society and how to prevent or reduce it.
Nnaji, who is the South-East Zonal Coordinator, Network of Civil Societies Against Child Trafficking, Abuse and Labour (NACTAL), added that human trafficking was all about exploitation.
“When you are exploited, you are used for different things for gain. So today, we are marking the World Day Against Human Trafficking to enlighten people that trafficking is still with us.
“There are so many of our children, youths, and villages that are being exploited. Today’s World Trafficking Day speaks on the theme of ending exploitation.
“Many of our younger ones are being killed or even have their organs taken due to trafficking,” she said.
Nnaji explained that NAPTIP was the one that organised the exercise through NACTAL as a Civil Society Organisation with support from ICMPD.
She, however, called for collaborative efforts to combat the menace, stressing that the government alone could not fight it.
Receiving them at the Ministry of Gender Affairs, Mrs Esther Mbah, the Director of Gender Affairs, Enugu State Ministry of Children, Gender Affairs and Social Development, extolled the collaboration between the ministry and NAPTIP.
