By Adenike Lawal
A horrifying case of abuse and exploitation has emerged in Abuja, as the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), disclosed that it recently rescued 19 pregnant girls, all reportedly impregnated by one man.
The disturbing revelation was made by NAPTIP’s Director General, Hajia Binta Adamu Bello, during a strategic meeting with the Chairperson of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, held on Friday in Abuja.
“Just last week, we rescued 19 girls, all pregnant for one man, from a residential estate here in the FCT,” Hajia Bello stated, describing the incident as one of the many alarming signs of a growing human trafficking crisis in the country.
She also revealed that nine Nigerian girls had recently been repatriated from Côte d’Ivoire, adding to the long list of survivors NAPTIP is working to protect.
Bello praised NiDCOM’s partnership, noting the agency’s role in the return of 231 stranded Nigerians from Ghana.
Bello called for a unified response from government, civil society, and global partners to confront the evolving trafficking threats.
She emphasized the need for stronger awareness campaigns and unwavering protection of the rights and dignity of victims.
Echoing her concerns, Hon. Dabiri-Erewa urged a more aggressive stance, including naming and shaming traffickers, stricter penalties, and holistic rehabilitation of survivors. She also called for more funding and policy reforms to enhance NAPTIP’s capacity.
She applauded the support of First Lady Senator Oluremi Tinubu, the International Organization for Migration (IOM), diaspora communities, neighboring countries, Wema Bank, and several NGOs in the fight against human trafficking.
“We must all do more to protect our young people and ensure that migration is safe, legal, and dignified,” Dabiri-Erewa concluded.
