NAPTIP Rescues 202 Human Trafficking Victims in Katsina

(Katsina NAPTIP Boss in the middle and some staff during the raid walk on Thursday in Katsina metropolitan area. Photo by Punch News)

Despite continuous awareness programs, the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons claims to have saved 202 victims of human trafficking in Katsina State between January and July 2026, highlighting the continual threat faced by traffickers.

This was revealed to our correspondent on Thursday by Musa Aliou, the Katsina State Commander of NAPTIP, during the annual July 30 World Day Against Trafficking in Persons.

The Katsina State Command of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons has disclosed that 202 victims of human tr@fficking have been rescued in the state, as the agency marks this year’s World Day Against Trafficking in Persons.

According to him, the rescued victims include 147 females and 55 males, while the agency continues to intensify efforts to identify and support other victims of tr@fficking across the state.

He said this year’s commemoration was aimed at educating the public on the dangers of human tr@fficking and encouraging collective action against the crime, noting that July 30 is a day set aside by the United Nations to commemorate the fight against tr@fficking, with the essence of the day being to unite and educate the general public on its dangers.

The state commander explained that NAPTIP began activities ahead of the global observance through a series of public enlightenment programmes, including radio discussions, television interviews and a road walk across Katsina metropolis.

He said the agency had held several radio programmes before the day itself, in addition to an interview with a television station, and conducted a road walk covering about three kilometres from the Katsina GRA Flyover to the NATO park to create awareness.

Aliyu noted that transport operators are strategic partners in the fight against tr@fficking because they often encounter victims and suspects during transit.

He said the agency met with transport union leaders during the awareness campaign and secured their commitment to report suspicious movements that could be linked to tr@fficking, stressing that combating human tr@fficking is everybody’s business and not that of NAPTIP alone, and called on all citizens to join hands with the agency given the various tricks traffickers use to lure their victims.

He identified women and children as the most vulnerable groups, urging members of the public to remain vigilant and promptly report suspected tr@fficking cases.

The Katsina NAPTIP boss expressed concern over the growing trend of internal tr@fficking in the state, noting that domestic tr@fficking has become more prevalent than international tr@fficking in Katsina, adding that the public had been educated on how to identify tr@fficking and its various forms.

The World Day Against Trafficking in Persons is observed annually to raise awareness of the plight of tr@fficking victims and promote the protection of their rights, while encouraging governments, institutions and communities to strengthen efforts against human tr@fficking.