The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) has urged government at all levels to address the issues of poverty and unemployment in Nigeria.

The agency says it is making the call to reduce the upsurge in the rate of human trafficking.

The Director for Public Enlightenment, NAPTIP, Mr Orakwue Arinze, made the remarks at a jointly organised conference on human trafficking in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory.

He highlighted poverty and unemployment as the major trigger for the growing illegal business.

Mr Arinze told the gathering on Monday that human trafficking has continued to thrive in Nigeria, even though there were existing laws that prohibit the act.

He appealed to the government to address the issues, in order to complement NAPTIP’s war against human trafficking.

The agency’s call is coming weeks after a female trafficking boss was sentenced to 22 years in prison for using the threat of witchcraft to exert control over almost 40 women brought from Nigeria to Europe for sex work.

A British court prosecutor said that Franca Asemota was found guilty of conspiracy to traffic persons for sexual exploitation, trafficking persons outside of the UK for sexual exploitation and assisting unlawful migration. (Channels TV)

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