National Agency for the Prohibition of? Trafficking? in Persons (NAPTIP), has raised fresh alarm over Nigerians still languishing in Mali after the successful repatriation of over 100 undergoing forced labour and? prostitution and the arrest? of some of their Traffickers.
NAPTIP in a statement? signed by the head of Media and communication, Mr. Arinze Orakwue, and made available to LEADERSHIP SUNDAY indicates that not fewer? than 1000 are still being held under severe exploitative and inhuman conditions, doing menial jobs? and forced prostitution in Mali and other West African countries.
The statement reads; “The Federal Government has shown strong commitment and political will as? evidenced in? how government? assisted? NAPTIP?? bring? back? our? lost sisters and? daughters.?? While? commending? government and counting? on the gains? of?? our? operations , we are? duty?? bound? to? tell? Nigerians the? true? position? after the rescue? operations.
“It is amazing to state?? that on our further investigations, not fewer than 1000 young girls? are? still rotting? away? in these places .
“It is necessary for? NAPTIP to be further? empowered to continue? in its??? effort and quest in? further repatriation of thousands? of Nigerian citizens left in these countries”, the statement added.
However, findings by? LEADERSHIP SUNDAY? reveals that the total? number of those repatriated from Mali may not? have been as much as a?? hundred? as? portrayed by??? the Executive Secretary of? the? agency, Mrs. Beatrice Jedy–Agba? .?
An inside? source? hinted that the 100 persons? repatriated as speculated by the Executive Secretary, may be to justify the huge sums of money the agency spent in the? operations.
When? LEADERSHIP? SUNDAY demanded to know from the Public? Relations Office of? the? agency, where the rescued? girls? were? kept, we were told that? their? respective state governments sent chartered Air lines to air lift? them to their? states, but? they insisted there were over a? hundred victims.