Joseph Famakin, the South West Zonal Commander of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Traffic in Persons and other Related Matters, on Sunday said that 314 persons were rescued from human traffickers in six states in 2013.
Famakin said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria in Lagos.
He said that the NAPTIP had reunited 297 victims with their families.
He, however, said that 18 victims had yet to be reunited with their families due to various reasons.
Famakin said that 179 human trafficking cases were reported in the six states under the zone – Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Osun, Ondo and Ekiti – in 2013, while 59 of the cases were under investigation.
He said that 16 cases were forwarded to the legal department of the agency, with a view to charging the offenders to court, while 12 cases had already been charged to different courts in the six states.
Famakin said: “We secured 16 convictions, while 50 cases are pending in various courts in the six states.
“Thirty-one cases were transferred to sister agencies, including the police and immigration, as well as other zonal commands for investigation and prosecution.
“Sixteen victims are currently learning various skills from some partners of the agency.
“Seven victims were empowered during the year, with hairdressing and fashion designing equipment, including generator sets.”
The commander said that the agency would strengthen its partners in 2014 to carry out anti-human trafficking messages to the grassroots, while increasing its efficiency in conducting investigations on human trafficking cases.
He added: “We intend using the new Intelligence International Cooperation Unit Centre created at the agency’s headquarters in Abuja to gather information about traffickers from destination countries.
“The victims’ protection mechanism, as witnesses to prosecute offenders, will also be strengthened in 2014.”
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