NAPTIP Rescue Three Trafficked Girls From Cote d'Ivoire

From Imafidon OSAZUA (Benin)

The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons, said it has rescued three survivors of human trafficking who are currently in its shelter.

The Commander, NAPTIP's Benin Zonal office in charge of Edo, Delta and Bayelsa states, Nduka Nwanwenene, disclosed this in Benin at a baseline revalidation workshop for Schools Anti- Trafficking Education and Advocacy Project implementation in Edo schools on Wednesday.

He said the three survivors who are currently in the agency shelter in Benin City were rescued from Cote d'Ivoire.

He said, "Three days ago, three girls that were rescued from Cote d'Ivoire arrived in our shelter. Many survivors have stayed in our shelter, they will stay for about six week depending on the perculiar case".

"There was a lady we rescued from Mali, she was there for 10 years before she was rescued, she was in our shelter and has been reunited with her family. A business has been opened for her through our partners International Organisation for Migration (IOM)."

Nwanwenene said that the agency is working with many stakeholders, specially the Nigeria Immigration Services (NIS) to intercept prospective victims of human trafficking.

He said the agency tried as much as possible to engage survivors in productive activities because they believe that when they are engaged, they are less likely to be vulnerable to be recruited for trafficking.

He added, "Last month, we empowered three survivors. Currently, 15 survivors are undergoing training at our shelter and when they finish in the next six months, they are also going to be empowered," he said.