In 2023, the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) rescued 41 victims of trafficking and arrested 18 individuals in Anambra State who were suspected of this crime.
During a conversation with media in Awka, Mr. Anthony Okafor, the public relations officer of the state agency, revealed that 25 incidents of human trafficking were reported to the agency in the year under consideration.
Seventeen of the twenty-five instances were already under prosecution, and seventeen more are pending further investigation, he said.
While he acknowledged that no defendants were found guilty in 2023, he urged the public to submit suspicious activity to NAPTIP without delay, promising that the organization would investigate the reports.
Public reports of human trafficking will be treated properly and criminals would be prosecuted promptly, according to Okafor, who urged the public to always report such incidents to NAPTIP.
“When you see something, say something. That’s what we expect from the citizenry—a prompt reporting of cases when they happen.”