NAPTIP arrests 20 for suspected human trafficking in Edo

The Benin Zonal Command of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) says it has arrested no fewer than 20 persons for suspected human trafficking.

Commander of the agency in Edo and Delta zone, Nduka Nwanwenne, who disclosed this in Benin on Friday, said that the suspects were arrested between January – May this year.

He said that some of the suspects have been charged to court while others were still in the command’s custody pending the completion of investigations on their cases.

The zonal commander also said that within the period 38 trafficked survivors were rescued while 46 cases were reported, even as the zonal command still has 36 cases pending in courts.

He added that the major challenge to the speedy determination of human trafficking cases was the retirement of judges, disclosing that the recent visit of the Director-General of NAPTIP, Mrs. Julie Okah-Donli, to the chief judge of Edo state prompted the designation of two special courts to handle human trafficking cases.

Nwanwenne said since the dedication of the special courts, there has been speedy trial of cases, declaring that in line with the policy of the agency to rehabilitate and reintegrate survivors into the society, the director-general has directed the zonal command to empower 20 human trafficking survivors.

According to him, the survivors have earlier undergone and completed training in various vocational fields, adding that the areas of empowerment for the victims include catering and hospitality management, fashion and design and cosmetology.

He disclosed that in the last two years, no fewer than 100 survivors of the criminal act have been empowered by the agency and that majority of them were doing well.

Nwanwenne said that a template has been put in place to stop beneficiaries of the empowerment scheme from disposing of the items or attempting to be re-trafficked.