Olaleye Aluko, Abuja
The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons and other related matters has said reports indicated that about 5,000 Nigerian girls are still trapped in Mali, being used for prostitution.
The NAPTIP said this in a release on Wednesday, adding that the agency would ensure the rescue of Nigerian victims of trafficking trapped in different parts of Africa.
On Monday, 37 Nigerian girls were deported to the country by the Malian government and airlifted to the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, through the Nigerian Air Force C-130 Hercules aircraft.
The NAPTIP Head, Press and Public Relations, Josiah Emerole, said on Wednesday that investigations had commenced into the case of the deported girls, while their perpetrators would face the law.
He said, “The NAPTIP has commenced investigation into the trafficking into Mali of the 37 female Nigerians. Four female suspects were also deported. a victims are being counselled by NAPTIP counsellors, while the suspects are in custody, making useful statements.
“The repatriation of the Nigerians was assisted by the Defence Headquarters, Abuja. The girls were said to be already posing a security risk to Mali. Reports indicate that over 5,000 Nigerian females are presently in different parts of Mali being forced into prostitution by their traffickers who had promised to help them to Europe.
“The acting Director General of NAPTIP, Mr. Abdulrazak Dangiri, has put in place, measures that would be presented to government to ensure that all other victims stranded in Mali and other parts of Africa are rescued and brought back to Nigeria.”
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