The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) Director General Dame Julie Okah-Donli, said yesterday that 10,500 Nigerians have been rescued from Libya.

The figure includes the 3,500 so far rescued by the Federal Government and over 7,000 rescued by the International Organisation for Migration (IOM).

Mrs. Okah-Donli explained that the figure might not do justice to the real figure because returnees were being brought back almost every week.

She said the agency has so far recorded 359 convictions against traffickers since inception and 43 this year alone.

The NAPTIP Director General added that 10 potential Russia-bond human trafficking victims were rescued at the Lagos airport on their way out.

While speaking with reporters yesterday in Abuja at a news conference, to mark the agency’s 15th anniversary and the 2018 World Day against human trafficking.

Mrs. Okah-Donli stated that the agency has written to the Ministry of Sports, inviting people who returned from the World Cup in Russia to report to them.

Her statements: “With regards to Libya, so far we have been able to rescue 3500. IOM has rescued over 7,000. It’s a work in progress and so giving figures might not be doing justice because almost every week, we have returnees to Nigeria. So, it is not easy to just pin a figure at it because we may get a plane tomorrow or the next.

“For the reintegration of the victims, we have 10 shelters. We give them psychosocial support. Those who want to go to school are given the opportunity. Those who want to acquire some skills, they do that and we reintegrate them back into the society at the end of the day.”

On success rate of conviction, the NAPTIP Director General said: “As of today, 359 convictions, we have made thousands of arrests, prosecutions and investigations. But so far, we have gotten 359 convictions in 15 years and 43 in the last one year.