The Zonal Command of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons in Akwa Ibom State, on Monday commended the collaborative efforts of all stakeholders in the state in the fight against human trafficking.
In a statement in Uyo, the state capital, the agency’s Head of Public Enlightenment in the state, Eme Ukpabio, commended Governor Umo Eno for setting up the Anti-trafficking Task Force, through the Office of the State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, and the recent creation of the Humanitarian Affairs Ministry.
She said, “NAPTIP Uyo Command makes bold to say with all sense of responsibility that it has enjoyed unparalleled collaboration and support from the state government in the area of tackling the issues of human trafficking.
“His Excellency-led administration has proved to be most responsive in addressing critical issues that affect the citizens like human trafficking. This is demonstrated through the setting up of necessary structures and institutions in the state.
“Worthy of note is the strategic support of the state government for the activities of the state’s Anti-human Trafficking Task Force through the Office of the State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, the Ministry of Women Affairs and the recent creation of the Humanitarian Affairs Ministry. It is believed that this rewarding mutual relationship shall continue in 2025.”
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In addition, Ukpabio clarified that her statement on the involvement of some clinics and hospitals in organ harvesting and the prevalence of organ harvesting which has generated heat in the state was borne out of the need to draw the attention of stakeholders to the dynamism and evolving nature of human trafficking in all the states in Nigeria and globally.
According to her, it was also intended to highlight the need for collective efforts of all stakeholders, adding that NAPTIP never accused any entity within the state of organ harvesting.
Recall that a media report credited to her, during the media briefing to mark the 2025 National Human Trafficking Awareness Day in Uyo said that one person had been arrested in connection with organ harvesting and that some clinics and hospitals were engaged in organ harvesting.
She said, “I therefore want to put the record straight: That my statement on the organ harvesting syndicate was intended to draw the attention of stakeholders to the dynamism and evolving nature of human trafficking in all the states in Nigeria and globally especially.
“That the statement was to highlight the need for collective efforts of all stakeholders including sister law-enforcement agencies, CSOs, development partners, and state and non-state actors among others and that NAPTIP never accused any entity within the state of organ harvesting.
“That my statement translated to the fact that there is possible suspicion of organ harvesting in the state as it is in other states in Nigeria.”
Ukpabio also stated that the figure of 750-1000 people being trafficked that she gave during the media interaction was obtained from the UNODCS Google report of June 2023, which states, “Between 750,000 to one million persons are trafficked. I also want to put the records straight that the statistics or data that 750,000 to one million people trafficked yearly from Nigeria, which Akwa Ibom State is part of, was drawn from UNODCS Google report of June 2023; and I added that Akwa Ibom State is one of the Nigerian states that is endemic”, she averred.
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