Over 2,000 Nigerian Girls Stranded in Mali, According to NAPTIP
NAPTIP says over 2,000 trafficked Nigerian girls are stuck in Mali..
This disclosure was made by Nduka Nwanwene, the Benin Zone Commander of NAPTIP, who also stated that the agency has intelligence indicating that girls from Mali are being trafficked to Edo State in Nigeria for the purpose of prostitution.
Nwanwene shared this information during the 2023 World Day Against Trafficking in Persons event held in Benin. The event centered around the theme “Reach every victim of trafficking, leave no one behind.”
“We recently received intelligence that traffickers are bringing young girls from Mali to Benin for prostitution. We are currently conducting an investigation into this matter. Additionally, a significant number of Nigerian girls, particularly young ones, are currently stranded in Mali. More than 20,000 Nigerian girls are believed to be stranded there,” Nwanwene said.
Girls from Mali are now trafficked into Benin City for prostitution instead of the other way around..
NAPTIP’s progress under Prof. Fatima Waziri-Azi includes convicting high-profile traffickers and supporting survivors through evidence-based rehabilitation and empowerment..
He asked different people to collaborate and help fight against human trafficking, highlighting the significance of contributing to Sustainable Development Goals..
Credit Adeyinka Adedipe