The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) in Anambra said it received over 30 petitions within its 12 months of operation.

Mrs Judith Chukwu, Commander of the agency in the State disclosed this in an interview with newsmen in Awka, as part of the ongoing 16-Day Activism Against Gender-Based Violence.

Chukwu said some of the cases received by the agency included child exploitation; gender-based violence, child sexual exploitation, sale of human beings and babies, and violence against women.

She said it also received cases of irregular migration where young men were smuggled out of Nigeria through irregular means.
“Such men find themselves in African and European countries where they are exploited in labour and have their organs harvested.
“We have been operating in Anambra since Nov. 2020, sensitising the people, engaging in advocacy, creating awareness, receiving petitions and treating cases,” Chukwu said.The commander said that NAPTIP was established to fight human trafficking, gender-based violence, and child exploitation with the right policies and strategies for combating the menaces.She said that the agency was working with relevant sister agencies as well as security agencies to ensure that human trafficking and abuse were reduced drastically.

Chukwu, however, noted that NAPTIP was facing some challenges including lack of adequate accommodation to enable it to operate optimally.

According to her, some of the cases involve victims that need to be given shelter.

“But, we don’t have such facilities; sometimes, we bring mattresses and we make them stay in the office but that is not what the office is meant for.

“Office is a place where we are supposed to do our administrative work.

“Though the Anambra Government provided a space for us, it is not conducive for us in view of what we do.

“However, the government has promised to provide a better place for us,” the commander said.

Chukwu condemned all forms of violence against man, woman or children including female genital mutilation.

She urged victims and their relations to report such cases to civil society organisations or security agencies who would, in turn, notify NAPTIP.

(NAN)