•Some pregnant girls
A chilling revelation of 19 pregnant girls rescued from an estate in Abuja, impregnated by a single man, has intensified calls for a coordinated national assault on human trafficking.
The disturbing case, disclosed by the Director-General of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), Hajia Binta Adamu Bello, underscores the deepening crisis of trafficking in persons across Nigeria, reports The Nation.
Speaking during a strategic meeting at the headquarters of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) in Abuja, the Commission’s Chairman/CEO, Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa described the situation as a national emergency that demands an all-out, whole-of-government and whole-of-society response.
This is a very dangerous and heartbreaking situation, Dabiri-Erewa said, reacting to the news of the 19 victims. She urged the government to declare a war against human trafficking, stressing that it is not just a NAPTIP problem but a national problem, requiring all relevant agencies to work together.
“It’s a very dangerous field. We must declare a war against human trafficking. And the idea about the multi-agency collaboration, NAPTIP, NIDCOM, Refugee Commisdion, Humanitarian , even Ministry of Youth need to join us in this fight,” she said.
Dabiri-Erewa called for intensified efforts to name and shame traffickers publicly, in the same manner as drug barons, and urged stricter penalties as a deterrent to others.
The NiDCOM boss emphasised the importance of stronger inter-agency collaboration involving NiDCOM, NAPTIP, the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI), the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, and the Ministry of Youth Development.
“No agency can do this alone,” she stressed, and added that NAPTIP needs full support,better funding, flexible policies, and unflinching political will. We must unite to protect our young people from predators.
Dabiri-Erewa also acknowledged the support of First Lady Senator Oluremi Tinubu, the International Organization for Migration (IOM), Wema Bank, civil society groups, neighbouring countries, and Nigerian Diaspora communities in the rescue and reintegration of trafficked persons.
In her remarks, Hajia Bello reiterated that human trafficking is a growing menace that cannot be tackled in isolation.
She commended NiDCOM for its consistent support, particularly during the recent rescue of 231 young Nigerians from Ghana, and expressed hope for deeper cooperation between both agencies.
“We need massive public awareness. Every household, every school, every community must be informed about the evil of trafficking,” she said.
Bello reaffirmed NAPTIP’s commitment to safeguarding the rights and dignity of vulnerable Nigerians, while pushing for broader societal vigilance and accountability.
The meeting concluded with a renewed pledge by both agencies to intensify advocacy, rescue operations, and policy reforms aimed at crushing trafficking networks and protecting Nigeria’s youth from exploitation.
