The Federal Government has announced plans to prosecute parents and transporters involved in human trafficking, aiming to deter future perpetrators.
This was revealed by the Honourable Minister of Women Affairs, Barrister Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye, during a courtesy visit to the Director-General of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), Fatima Waziri-Azi, in Abuja.
Kennedy-Ohanenye highlighted the alarming increase in parental involvement in trafficking, noting that perpetrators will face severe legal consequences.
She explained that traffickers often negotiate with parents before contracting transport systems to move children.
“Henceforth, both the parents, traffickers, and transporters, whether by air, land, or sea, will be identified and punished for their roles,” Kennedy-Ohanenye stated.
She emphasized the commitment of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration to eliminate such heinous crimes, which violate African culture and global standards.
The Minister also urged NAPTIP to collaborate with the Ministry in gathering information on Nigerian girls trafficked to Ghana for prostitution.
She assured support for their academic pursuits through partnerships, including subsidized tuition fees with the Open University of Nigeria, and access to grants and e-commerce opportunities.
NAPTIP Director-General Waziri-Azi confirmed the rescue of the trafficked girls and the arrest of their abductors.
She assured that the girls would soon return to Nigeria for rehabilitation and integration.
Waziri-Azi emphasized the need for a systematic approach in collaboration with the Ministry to prevent future trafficking incidents and urged parents to resist any attempts to lure their children into prostitution.
Kennedy-Ohanenye had earlier visited the Ghanaian High Commission in Nigeria to obtain updated information on the girls’ whereabouts, ensuring their safe return.
