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NAPTIP reunites 1,200 trafficked victims with families
About 1,200 victims of human trafficking were reunited with their families in one year, the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons has said.
NAPTIP revealed this in a three-year performance overview spanning September 2021 to September 2024.
Released in November 2024, the review covers the tenure of NAPTIP’s immediate past Director-General, Prof. Fatima Waziri-Azi.
The agency revealed that it reunited 1,198 trafficked victims across its offices nationwide from September 2023 to September 2024, most of these reunifications occurring in 2024.
In September 2023, the agency rescued 101 victims, which rose slightly to 105 in October and 112 in November.
However, December 2023 saw a significant dip, with only 81 victims rescued.
The new year started with 88 victims rescued in January 2024, which climbed to 109 in February but slightly declined to 95 in March.
April 2024 recorded the lowest number during this period, with only 67 victims rescued.
May marked a significant increase with 160 victims rescued, followed by 116 in June, and peaking at 164 in July 2024, the highest monthly figure during the reporting period.
Those rescued received support, including shelter, legal assistance, mental health counselling and reintegration services before being reunited with their families, the report said.
In obtaining justice for VoTs and gender-based violence, NAPTIP said between January 2022 and August 2024, it secured 190 human trafficking convictions, accounting for 27.94 per cent of all such convictions achieved by the agency in 21 years.
It also recorded 20 convictions for rape and domestic violence within the same period, representing 74.07 per cent of all such convictions obtained by the agency since 2015.
Among these are high-profile cases, including life imprisonment sentences for some offenders.
Three offenders were handed life imprisonment sentences for rape. Seven offenders received prison terms of 10 years or more, including the high-profile case of Felicia Osaigbovo, who was sentenced to 12 years in prison alongside a N24m fine for trafficking Nigerian girls to Belgium for sexual exploitation.
Meanwhile, 11 offenders were sentenced to terms ranging from five to nine years, such as Patricia Igbinovia, who, in January 2024, was convicted of facilitating the trafficking of five victims to Spain and sentenced to seven years in prison with a N1m fine.
For lesser offences, 12 offenders received sentences between one and four years, often combined with fines or compensations. In some cases, fines alone were imposed, ranging from N250,000 to N24m.
In the report, NAPTIP’s immediate past chief, Waziri-Azi, attributed these to enhanced collaboration with local and international partners.
“These convictions are a testament to the agency’s unwavering commitment to justice and the resilience of survivors who courageously participated in the prosecution process,” she said.
On the nature of exploitation, most VoTs primarily faced forced labour and sexual exploitation. Further details from the IOM showed that 1,114 victims, predominantly females (82 per cent), were exploited through forced labour and sex trade exploitation.
The Rivers State Sole Administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (retd.), has replied to the Nigerian Bar Association regarding the reason for relocating its Annual General Conference from Port Harcourt to Enugu State.
Ibas faulted the reason cited by the NBA, describing it as misleading and uncharitable.
The Sole Administrator stated this in a statement issued in Port Harcourt on Monday by his media aide, Hector Igbikiowubo, and sent to newsmen.
He said while the NBA reserves the right to choose a venue for its conference, the association had yet to address the issue of the refund of the hosting rights paid by the state government for the conference.
The statement partly reads, “While we respect the NBA’s right to choose its conference venues, we find it curious that the association—despite its “principled position”— didn’t address the refund of the N300 million already paid by the Rivers State Government for the hosting rights of the 2025 conference.
“If the NBA truly stands on principle, it should demonstrate the same integrity by promptly returning these funds rather than benefiting from a state it now publicly discredits.”
It added, “The attention of the Rivers State Government has been drawn to the Nigeria Bar Association’s announcement dated 10th April 2025, relocating its 2025 Annual General Conference from Port Harcourt to Enugu.
The statement partly reads, “While we respect the NBA’s right to choose its conference venues, we find it curious that the association—despite its “principled position”— didn’t address the refund of the N300 million already paid by the Rivers State Government for the hosting rights of the 2025 conference.
“If the NBA truly stands on principle, it should demonstrate the same integrity by promptly returning these funds rather than benefiting from a state it now publicly discredits.”
It added, “The attention of the Rivers State Government has been drawn to the Nigeria Bar Association’s announcement dated 10th April 2025, relocating its 2025 Annual General Conference from Port Harcourt to Enugu.
By Francesca Hangeior
The Federal Government has unveiled the second phase of its contactless biometric passport application system across its four missions in United States, Mexico, Jamaica and Brazil.
The Nigeria Immigration Service NIS disclosed this in a tweet on its ‘X’ handle signed by Service Spokesman, ACI AS Akinlabi.
The statement reads; “ain continuation of the phased Roll-Out of the Contactless Biometric Passport Application System across Nigerian Missions abroad, the Nigeria Immigration Service under its
Comptroller General, Kemi Nanna Nandap wishes to inform the General public especially Nigerians in the Diaspora that it is implementing the next stage of the roll-out across the following countries.
“The Application System, which is currently available on Google Play Store (NIS Mobile), is designed to allow Nigerians to renew their passports without visiting any Passport Centre for Biometrics enrollment. The Apple Store version will be onboarded shortly and an enhanced version of the NIS Mobile App for both Android and iOS users will be deployed to further improve users’ experience and accessibility.
“With this roll-out, the Service further informs the General public that the Contactless Passport App is now available in Canada, the USA, Mexico, Jamaica, Brazil, Europe, and Asia. It is yet to be rolled out in Australia and Nigeria, a future date will be announced for both countries in due course.
“The Service remains committed to innovative and efficient Service Delivery to Nigerians anywhere in the world”.
By Francesca Hangeior
At least eight of the 1,800 candidates shortlisted for teaching positions under the Kwara State Teaching Service Commission have been disqualified after testing positive for banned substances.
This was disclosed in a statement on Monday by the TESCOM Press Secretary, Sam Onile, who quoted the Chairman of the Commission, Bello Abubakar.
According to the statement, the disqualified applicants tested positive for drugs, including benzodiazepine, tramadol, cotinine, marijuana, and amphetamine.
The tests were conducted by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency with support from the state government.
Abubakar said the affected candidates would be replaced by the next best-performing applicants from their respective local government areas.
“A major implication of this development is that the affected individuals will be replaced by the candidates who are next to them in performance from their respective local government areas,” the statement said.
“The idea is to send an unmistakable message about the state government’s zero tolerance for drug abuse. We have a duty of care not to expose little children to drug abuse under any circumstances.”
The TESCOM chairman praised AbdulRazaq for insisting on a merit-based recruitment process, noting that the governor had again demonstrated fairness and commitment to quality education in the state.
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