Liaising with NAPTIP, the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons in Nigeria
We have spent much of the last week communicating with the case officer at NAPTIP, the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons in Nigeria. The body is in the most part-funded by the UK and EU.
NAPTIP now have the Nigerian madame and her husband in custody and have their phones which contain a lot of evidence. Bindy has led this initiative at some risk to herself.
Amy refuses to speak out and we have been acting as a go-between for them. Amy is a keen church attender but her new pastor in Benin has put her under some kind of Christian Juju. The effect of this is that if she talks about her experiences her spirit, and the spirits of those around her, will be “punished”.
Back in Dubai, we know that the remaining 16 women have had their smartphones removed. This is their lifeline to the outside world as they are only supplied with text/voice phones for work with no wifi or overseas calling ability.
The BBC is still planning to come on Monday to interview us. We have been prepping them with information and supplying contacts in Nigeria ahead of this. The British Deputy High Commissioner to Nigeria, Lagos, Harriet Thompson, has just visited the new NAPTIP headquarters in Benin so hopefully, they can speak to her directly.
Thank you once again for your support. We are planning to go back to Dubai on the 20th following the BBC piece but in the meantime please share the link https://stoptraffickingafrica.org !
