RismadarVoice Reporters, April 16, 2026
The Abia State Government, in partnership with the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) and the International Organization for Migration (International Organization for Migration), has officially inaugurated a State Task Force on Human Trafficking as part of renewed efforts to curb the growing menace in the state.
The initiative, which was formally launched in Umuahia, is aimed at strengthening coordinated action among relevant stakeholders to prevent, suppress, and ultimately eradicate human trafficking in Abia State.
Reporting on the development, journalist Jude Obiora noted that the task force is expected to enhance inter-agency collaboration, improve victim protection mechanisms, and intensify public enlightenment campaigns across communities considered vulnerable to trafficking networks.
Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, the Governor of Abia State, represented by Deputy Governor Ikechukwu Emetu, reaffirmed the administration’s commitment to tackling the root causes of human trafficking. He stressed that the government’s approach will focus not only on enforcement but also on addressing socioeconomic drivers, ensuring justice for victims, and expanding awareness at the grassroots level.
Providing a broader national context, the Director-General of NAPTIP, Haji Binta Bello, disclosed that the agency has rescued a total of 27,496 victims of human trafficking since its establishment. According to her, 24,883 of those rescued are Nigerians, while 1,593 are foreign nationals.
She further revealed that Abia State currently ranks ninth among Nigerian states in terms of vulnerability to human trafficking, a statistic she said underscores the urgency and importance of establishing the task force.
The new task force is expected to serve as a critical platform for coordinated interventions, intelligence sharing, sustained community engagement aimed at reducing trafficking risks across the state.
