US embassy cable - 05LAGOS1204

UNCLAS LAGOS 001204 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPARTMENT FOR INL/G/TIP SALLY NEUMANN; DEPARTMENT FOR 
AF/RSA ROBERT ZUEHLKE 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PHUM, PREL, KCRM, KWMN, NI 
SUBJECT: NIGERIAN COURT DELIVERS SECOND CONVICTIONS UNDER 
ANTI-TRAFFICKING LAW 
 
REF: 2004 LAGOS 2394 
 
1. Summary. The GON has convicted two individuals involved 
in a trafficking in persons ring in Kano state, northern 
Nigeria.  Nigeria's National Agency for the Prohibition of 
Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) expects at least one more 
conviction by year's end.  Officials involved in the fight 
against trafficking, however, cite stifling court delays, 
untrained officers in the field, and difficulties educating 
the highest risk groups as major obstacles preventing more 
frequent and greater successes. End Summary. 
 
2. In recognition of Nigeria's graduation from the Tier 2 
Trafficking in Persons "Watch List," on July 27, the 
Ambassador hosted a reception to commend government 
officials and non-governmental representatives on their 
recent progress and to urge continued diligence in tackling 
this serious problem.  At the reception, Nigeria's new 
Attorney General announced that two traffickers from Kano 
State had just been convicted and sentenced, one to a 2- 
year, one to a 3-year term, under the same law that sent a 
perpetrator from Edo State to jail last November (reftel). 
NAPTIP acted on information provided by the Saudi Consulate 
in Kano. 
 
3. An agent confirmed that NAPTIP is targeting Kano and Edo 
States, the country's busiest transit and source points for 
trafficking victims, respectively. He added that NAPTIP had 
another clear-cut case from the area ready for prosecution, 
but court delays were expected to prevent a final decision 
for at least another three months. 
 
4. Other efforts mentioned at the reception include 
expanding the operations of anti-trafficking immigration 
officials from the current twelve to twenty-four states. 
However, the newly appointed director of the program stated 
that there were still not enough resources to train and 
sensitize all field officers. Officials also asked for 
resources to help educate at risk populations in the 
country's villages and other hot spots for trafficking 
crimes. 
 
5. Comment: The reception allowed the most important players 
from NAPTIP, customs and immigration, the office of the 
Presidency, and NGOs to get together and discuss combined 
efforts. In facing the obstacles ahead, cooperation is 
essential, and the energy exhibited at the meeting is 
promising. The Attorney General asked that USAID resume 
funding through Democracy and Governance programs to 
streamline the courts to allow for more convictions. Public 
Outreach programs also need to be expanded to reach at-risk 
Nigerians and help undereducated individuals understand that 
many sent away ostensibly to earn money, are being 
exploited, abused, and detained against their will. End 
Comment. 
 
 
6. This cable was cleared by Embassy Abuja.