The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons has charged victims of human trafficking to press civil charges against convicted traffickers to claim damages.
According to Daily Trust, Nduka Nwanwene, commander of the agency in Edo State, said this at a stakeholders’ meeting organised by Justice Development, Peace and Caritas Initiative in Benin, Edo capital.
The meeting focused on the activation of the Victims Trust Fund committee in the state to handle victims of human trafficking.
“There is a provision in the law in, that victims can take their traffickers to Court on civil claim to claim damages if they are exploited.”
“NAPTIP is concerned with the crime aspect of trafficking. When a trafficker is convicted, it doesn’t prevent the victim from taking the trafficker to court and making civil claims and damages,” he said.
He said such development would aid the fight against human trafficking as the traffickers have been pushed roundly and suffered punishment with the conviction and would also be made to pay some funds for having exploited the victim.
“This will send a clear message that if a trafficker has been convicted, the victim can still go to court to claim damages for the Trafficking, and when convicted, the victim can claim damages of N5 and N10 million, it would go a long way in rehabilitating the victim.”.
