The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons says it rescued 147 victims of human trafficking in Jigawa in 2025.

The NAPTIP commander in Jigawa, Abdulkadir Turajo, said this in Dutse on Tuesday. Mr Turajo said the victims had been reunited with their families after they were given comprehensive counselling.

He said the command also secured the conviction of a 30-year-old Nigerien, Hassan Alhassan.

The commander said Mr Alhassan was convicted for attempting to transfer a male victim from Kano through the Maigatari border in Jigawa to Libya, through Magarya in Zinder state.

According to him, the command conducted a total of 49 sensitisation campaigns in endemic communities in the state, including schools, markets, mosques, churches and motor parks.

“Trafficking in persons has re-emerged in recent times as a modern form of slavery. Jigawa is a source and one of the major international routes of human trafficking to Europe and the Middle East through Niger and the Chad-Sudan-Saudi Arabia axis.

“The state is also known for high records of cases of sexual abuses and is a major source for internal trafficking for labour,” Mr Turajo said.

He said the consequences of human trafficking were one of the world’s most hazardous and notorious crimes and a threat to national security and public safety.

While commending the Jigawa government and all its agencies for  support and cooperation, the commander specifically lauded the commitment, interest and support of Governor Umar Namadi to the agency’s war against human trafficking in the state.

(NAN)