At a joint press conference held on Saturday at the Katsina State Secretariat Complex to commemorate World Day Against Trafficking in Persons, Musa Aliyu, the Commander of the State Command of the National Agency for Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), disclosed the number.

In coordination with partners from the Nigeria Immigration Service, the Nigeria Police Force, and Civil Society Organizations (CSO) operating in the State, he said, NAPTIP received the victims.

The World Day Against Trafficking in Persons this year’s subject is “Use and Abuse of Technology,” which emphasizes on the use of technology as a tool that can facilitate and prevent human trafficking. Aliyu urged Nigerian youths not to be duped by the supposed better pastures.

The Joint Conference was put together by the State’s Ministry of Women Affairs, the State Command of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) as well as the State Command of the Network Against Child Trafficking, Abuse and Labour (NACTAL).

In his remarks, the State Coordinator of the State Command of the Network Against Child Trafficking, Abuse and Labour (NACTAL), Mr. Shola Babadiya described cyber technology as avenue used by human traffickers to further their nefarious activities under its power of anonymity.

In addition to mobilizing and recruiting their victims, the traffickers, according to him, employed cyber technology to set up their victims’ logistics and transportation. He urged people to be vigilant and work with the NAPTIP.

In light of the methods traffickers use to draw victims into their webs, the State Commissioner for Women Affairs, Rabi’ah Muhammad Daura, urged media professionals to step up efforts to raise public awareness of the negative effects of human trafficking.