Niger gov gives NAPTIP land to improve human trafficking crackdown

Niger State Governor Mohammed Bago has urged state governments to collaborate with the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) to combat human trafficking and violence across Nigeria, particularly in the North.

Bago disclosed this while speaking during a meeting with NAPTIP’s Director General, Binta Bello, in Abuja on Tuesday; he emphasised the urgency of tackling these issues.

“The focus on violence against persons and human trafficking is very important, especially in Northern Nigeria,” he said.

He said the alarming number of out-of-school children, particularly girls, and the rise in domestic violence and gender-based abuse are the results of the region’s insecurity.

To support NAPTIP’s operations, Bago announced the allocation of land for the immediate establishment of the agency’s Niger State Command.

“We shall give you land with a Certificate of Occupancy, and we want this project to start immediately,” he said.

He also pledged temporary accommodation for personnel and expressed readiness to facilitate the establishment of a NAPTIP Regional Command Office in the state.

Bello, in response, acknowledged the high incidence of child trafficking, labour exploitation, and domestic servitude in Niger State, noting that NAPTIP’s presence would enhance its capacity to protect victims and prosecute offenders.

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“Our presence in Niger State is paramount to executing our mandates effectively,” she said.

She commended Bago’s commitment and called on other state governments to follow suit in providing institutional support to combat human trafficking.