…Over 403 human traffickers convicted, many other achievements of the Agency
By Victor Akaa, Abuja
The Director General of National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) Dame Julie Okah–Donli has said over 403 human traffic offenders had so far been convicted, many others prosecuted with other track record of achievements placing the Agency side by side amongst its peers around the globe.
Mrs. Okah–Donli stated this in the occasion of this year’s World Day Against Human Trafficking in Abuja on Wednesday.
She said “it is important to point out that NAPTIP has become a model and most sought-after among the globe. This is so because it is the leading counter trafficking Agency with comprehensive functions within the African continent”.
She further said this effort has projected the positive image of the country and further balanced the perceived wrong narrative about Nigeria.
She outlined other achievements by the Agency to include evacuation of the trapped victims of human trafficking in Bamako Mali, setting up of task forces in Delta, Ondo and Ekiti which enhances better collaborations with the state and local governments on issues of human trafficking, engagement of traditional rulers especially the ones around the border communities.
She also said, the Agency has organised the advocacy and sensitisation campaign for stakeholders including the drivers, law enforcement officers, civil society organisations and other partners within the ECOWAS sub region, training and employment of the victims of human trafficking, amongst others.
She further alerted that some criminal gangs have devised other means and some tricks of achieving their dastardly act which include, advertising for the recruitment for drivers, maids,nurses and fake offer of scholarship, nonexisting of some football clubs in some notorious Middle east countries, targeting the young Nigerians to fall prey.
She therefore warned that Nigerians should be conscious of these emerging trends and be vigilant to avert being victimised.
She promised to making Nigeria a human trafficking free nation by taking the message of anti-human trafficking from house to house, family to family and from person to person in the years ahead as part of the agency’s strategic plan.
Also speaking, the chief of mission IOM, Mr. Franz Celestin said UN has over the years supported NAPTIP in the fight, launching of National referral mechanism for protection and assistance to trafficked persons in Nigeria.
Mr. Celestin maintained that there was every need for both the international community and NAPTIP to redouble the efforts to prevent trafficking, identify and protect victims as well as disrupt the existing criminal networks of the perpetrators.
The theme of 2019 World Day Against Human Trafficking is “Human Trafficking : Call Your Government to Action”.
