PROSTITUTION: NAPTIP Identifies 20,000 Edo,Delta Females In Mali

The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) said on Thursday , that  no fewer than 20,000 trafficked girls from Edo and Delta are currently in Mali for prostitution.

The Benin Zonal Commander, NAPTIP,  Nduka Nwanwenne, who disclosed this  in  Edo , said that since 2004 when NAPTIP was established in the state, about 50 ladies of Etsako extraction had been returned to Nigeria from other countries.

Nwanwenne who spoke during the “I’m not for Sale” campaign in the State , said that though human trafficking was a global issue, recent statistics revealed that it was high in the two states.

According to him, organ harvesting has been identified as  the latest twist to human trafficking.

He said that in view of this, there was need for protection of the children and youths.

Nwanwenne said the agency had beamed its searchlight on hotels in the zone for some time now and had a list of suspected ones.

The Zonal Commander further disclosed that organ harvesting was the latest angle to human trafficking.

He said that in view of this, there was need for protection of the children and youths.

He stressed that human trafficking occurred internationally and locally, revealed that in the next few weeks, the agency would raid suspected hotels in the state where the act took place.