Nigeria’s Jigawa State strengthens the fight against human trafficking

Ending trafficking in persons and the smuggling of migrants is a priority for Nigeria. Its geographical location, with its access to Niger, Libya and the Mediterranean, makes the country a place of transit. The European Union and Spain are supporting Nigeria in the face of this challenge through the A-TIPSOM cooperation project, funded by the EU and managed by FIIAPP. Within the framework of this project, work has begun on the creation of a Task Force to counter trafficking in Nigeria’s Jigawa State.  

The launch of this working group was attended by the Governor of Jigawa State, H.E. Muhammad Badaru Abubakar. The governor described the problem of trafficking, which especially affects the northern borders of the country, in Jigawa and Katsina States, as “worrying”. He also reaffirmed his full support for NAPTIP (National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons).   

The A-TIPSOM team leader, Rafael Ríos Molina, highlighted the daily work carried out by the National Police together with Nigerian institutions. “This provides direct support to the Nigerian Police Force (NPF), the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS), NAPTIP and civil society organisations represented by the Network Against Child Trafficking, Abuse and Labour (NACTAL).”  

The Director-General of NAPTIP Senator Basheer Garba Muhammed stressed the importance of the work being done by the new anti-trafficking task force: raising awareness among vulnerable groups and providing service and support to victims of human trafficking. As part of NAPTIP’s efforts to end human trafficking, they are collaborating with state governments in establishing these task forces in order to consolidate the efforts of the agency and other stakeholders.