NAPTIP rescues Akwa Ibom girl trafficked to Mali

The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) has rescued a girl, Hope Umoren, trafficked from Akwa Ibom to Mali for sexual exploitation.

The NAPTIP Commander in the South-South, Mr. Emmanuel Awhen, disclosed this to journalists on Friday in Uyo.

He said the girl was rescued in collaboration with its partner, the Global Anti-Human Trafficking Organisation (GAHTO), working with the agency in Mali.

He added that the girl had issues with her parents and met her friend, Miss Joy Nelson, who advised her to travel and make good money.

“Nelson gave her some money and transported her to Lagos to meet one Michael, who moved her to Mali for sexual exploitation.

READ ALSO: Police uncovers illegal maternity home, rescues pregnant women in Akwa Ibom

“While in Mali, it dawned on Umoren that she was going for prostitution and she did not like the idea, so she called her father.

“The father now came to us to complain about the incident. Based on his complaints, we swung into action using our contact in Mali, the Global Anti-human Trafficking Organisation (GAHTO), a Non-Governmental Organisation working with the agency.

“We traced her and rescued her back to Akwa Ibom and reunited her with her parents.

“We intend to assist her to have something doing to keep her busy and earning a small income, to avoid being tempted to go out again,” Awhen said.

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