So far, over 10,500 Nigerians have been rescued from Libya.
This number includes the 3500 so far rescued by the Federal Government and over 7000 rescued by the International Organization for Migration.
Director General, National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) Dame Julie Okah-Donli explained that the figure might not do justice to the real figure because returnees are brought back almost every week.
She said that the agency has so far recorded 359 convictions against traffickers since inception and 43 this year alone.
The DG also revealed that ten potential Russia bond human trafficking victims where rescued at the Lagos airport on their way out.
Address newsmen yesterday in Abuja, at a press conference to mark the agencies 15th anniversary and the 2018 World day against human trafficking.
Okah-Donli added that the agency has written to the Ministry of Sports, inviting people who returned from the world cup in Russia to report to them.
Her words, “With regards to Libya so far we gave been able to rescue 3500, IOM has rescued over 7000 it’s a work in progress so giving figures might not be doing justice because almost every week we have returnees to Nigeria so it is not easy to just pin a figure at it because we may get a plane tomorrow or the next.
“For the reintegration of the victims we have ten shelters, we give them psychosocial support, those who want to go to school are given the opportunity, those who want acquire some skills, they do that and we reintegrate them back into the society at the end of the day.
“Success rate of conviction, as of today 359 convictions, we have made thousands of arrests, prosecutions, investigations but so far we have gotten 359 convictions in 15years and 43 in the last one year.
“On the issue of the world cup, we have written to the Ministry of Sports to invite those who left for the World cup and returned to report themselves to NAPTIP so that we will be sure they have returned, for those who have returned whose return tickets where cancelled because about 150 or so came back a gew weeks ago and claimed their tickets where cancelled which got them stranded and the Federal Government had to bring them back, for people like that we need to find out who bought the ticket for them, iur investigation officers know what to do and we wont spare anyone found wanting because the question is if you intended for them not to come back, then what was the idea behind it?
“For Russia 2018, ten potential victims of trafficking where rescued on their way out from the Lagos airport, five suspects where arrested and more arrest have been made also, we are still investigating and prosecution is to commence very soon.”
