Benin Zonal Command of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons, has arrested no fewer than 20 persons for suspected human trafficking.

Its Commander in Edo and Delta zone, Nduka Nwanwenne, said the suspects were arrested between January, 2019 and May, 2019.

Nwanwenne said some of the suspects had been charged to court, while others were still in the command’s custody pending completion of investigation on their cases.

He also said within the period, 38 trafficking survivors were rescued, while 46 cases were reported, saying the zonal command still had 36 cases pending in courts, adding that the major challenge to speedy determination of cases of human trafficking was retirement of judges.

Nwanwenne said the recent visit of Director-General, Julie Okah-Donli, to the Chief Judge of Edo prompted the designation of two special courts to handle human trafficking cases, saying since the dedication of the special courts for the cases, there had been speedy trial of cases.

He said in line with the policy of the agency to rehabilitate and reintegrate survivors into the society, the director-general had directed the zonal command to empower 20 survivors of human trafficking.

According to him, the survivors had earlier undergone and completed training in various vocational fields.

Nwanwenne said the areas of empowerment for the victims included catering and hospitality management, fashion and design and cosmetology, saying in the last two years, no fewer than 100 survivors of the criminal act had been empowered by the agency, and that majority of them were doing well.

He said a template had been put in place to stop beneficiaries of the empowerment scheme from disposing of the items or attempting to be re-trafficked.