The House of Representatives has called for stronger action against human trafficking, urging closer collaboration among government agencies, international organisations and civil society groups to protect Nigerians rescued from Mali and other West African countries.
The call was made during a high-level stakeholders’ meeting organised by the House Committee on Humanitarian Services in Abuja.
Chairperson of the committee, Hon. Tolulope Akande-Sadipe, said rescuing victims alone is not enough, stressing that survivors must receive proper rehabilitation, education, healthcare, legal support and economic opportunities to prevent them from falling victim to traffickers again.
“Trafficking is not merely a migration issue; it is a grave violation of human rights and an assault on human dignity that demands a coordinated national response,” she said.
Akande-Sadipe noted that thousands of Nigerians, especially women, children and young people, continue to be trafficked across West Africa for forced labour, sexual exploitation and other forms of abuse.
She pledged that the House would continue to strengthen laws, improve oversight and support agencies responsible for protecting vulnerable Nigerians.
At the meeting, the National Council of Child Rights Advocates, Nigeria (NACCRAN) presented findings from an 11-month investigation into the trafficking of Nigerian girls in Mali.
The organisation alleged that some officials at the Nigerian Embassy in Mali and other collaborators engaged in questionable practices during the rescue and repatriation of trafficking victims.
NACCRAN also claimed that some rescued girls reported physical and emotional abuse after refusing prostitution, while others faced difficulties with undocumented migration and identity verification.
The group urged the Federal Government to investigate the allegations, strengthen cooperation among relevant agencies and improve policies aimed at protecting Nigerians from human trafficking across West Africa.
Source: House of Representatives / NACCRAN
