A total of 33 victims of human trafficking have been rescued by the Uyo zone of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Traffic in Persons and Other Related Matters (NAPTIP).
Speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Uyo, the Zonal Head, Mr Peter Essien, said the victims were rescued between January and June, this year.
Essien said within the period, 34 human traffickers were arrested, adding that four suspects were charged to court and sentenced to various terms of imprisonment.
He explained that the first two convicts were sentenced to five years imprisonment with hard labour each and that the convicts were expected to pay a fine of N200, 000 each after serving the prison terms.
Essien said that the third convict bagged four years imprisonment without an option of fine, while the fourth was convicted and fined N50, 000 for attempted trafficking.
The Zonal Head also disclosed that a total of 36 trafficking cases were reported in the first half of this year, out of which 15 cases had been fully investigated, while 21 others were under investigation.
He said the agency had eight cases pending in court and that since the beginning of the year; it had not lost any case against traffickers.
He said that out of 34 arrested suspects, 18 were females, while 16 were males.
Essien who lauded other security agencies for their support, said that a total of six cases of human trafficking were referred from other organisations.
NAN reports that Uyo zone of NAPTIP covers Akwa-Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross-River and Rivers States.