Fidelia Soriwei, Abuja
The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) says it rescued 202 victims of human trafficking in Katsina State between January and July 2026 as authorities intensify efforts to curb the crime.
The Katsina State Commander of NAPTIP, Musa Aliou, disclosed this on Thursday during activities marking the 2026 World Day Against Trafficking in Persons.
According to him, the victims comprised 147 females and 55 males rescued across different parts of the state, while efforts are ongoing to identify and support other victims.
Aliou said the annual observance provides an opportunity to mobilise public support against trafficking and educate communities on the tactics used by traffickers.
“Today, being the 30th of July, is a day set aside by the United Nations to commemorate the fight against human trafficking. The essence of today is to unite and educate the general public on the dangers and evil of human trafficking,” he said.
As part of the campaign, NAPTIP organised radio and television programmes as well as a road walk through parts of Katsina metropolis to raise awareness.
“We started before today with several radio programmes. Today, I also had an interview with the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA). We equally conducted a road walk from the Katsina GRA Flyover to the NATO park, covering about three kilometres, to create awareness,” he said.
The commander noted that transport operators remain important partners in tackling trafficking because they frequently encounter victims and suspects during transit.
He said the agency engaged transport union leaders during the awareness drive and received assurances of cooperation in reporting suspicious movements linked to trafficking activities.
“Human trafficking is everybody’s business. It is not only NAPTIP that can fight it. We are calling on all citizens to join hands with us to combat this menace because traffickers use different tricks to lure their victims,” he said.
Aliou identified women and children as the groups most vulnerable to trafficking and urged residents to promptly report suspected cases.
He also expressed concern over the rising incidence of domestic trafficking in the state, saying it has become more prevalent than cross-border trafficking.
“In this part of the country, especially in Katsina State, internal trafficking is more common than international trafficking. We have educated the public on how to identify trafficking and the different forms it takes,” he added.
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