Politics
THE National Agency for Prohibition of Trafficking In Persons (NAPTIP), says it will collaborate with Bayelsa Government and relevant agencies to combat human trafficking and other related offences in the state.
Mrs Ijeoma Uduak, the Zonal Commander of NAPTIP, Benin Zonal Command, said this on Tuesday in Yenagoa. The command comprises Edo, Delta and Bayelsa.
She said this during her visits to the Secretary to the Bayelsa State Government (SSG), Department of State Services (DSS), Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), and State Commissioner of Police (CP).
Uduak said that NAPTIP through its Director-General, Mrs Julie Okah-Donli, was ready to partner relevant stakeholders in order to reduce the rate of human trafficking, child labour, sexual exploitation and other related offences to the barest minimum in the state.
“As we all know, NAPTIP is a focal agency of the Federal Government saddled with the responsibility of coordinating all trafficking in persons law, arrests and prosecution of offenders.
“We also rehabilitate victims and prevent occurrence through sensitisation and partnership for the betterment of the society.
“We are more determined and ready for synergy and collaboration in order to collectively eradicate these heinous crimes across board,” she said.
Commenting, the SSG, Mr Kombowei Benson, said the state government had continually tackled trafficking and rape cases, being a common menace in the state.
“There have been talk shows on Radio, TV, social media. So, much steps must be taken to curb the situation.
“As a government, we must ensure that such activities do not thrive in Bayelsa, where you see young girls are being raped and molested by adults; that has to be a thing of the past.
“Information must be given to be able to lessen the issue of rape, trafficking and child abuse in the whole country,” he said.
The Acting State Director of DSS, Mr Mike Obaje, commended the NAPTIP for the synergy with security agencies in Bayelsa.
He said child trafficking, rape ànd abuse had in recent times been on the increase in Nigeria.
“Rape is becoming a serious concern for the citizenry as the menace is now common in all parts of the country.
“NAPTIP should endeavour to organise an enlightenment programme for the public to be aware of the antics of those involved in trafficking and other related matters,” he said.
The Commander NDLEA, Mr Kupi Maulsei, said he was ready to partner NAPTIP to curb human trafficking and other related matters in Bayelsa.
He urged the officials to be more serious this time around, as the crime of trafficking and rape were on the increase in Nigeria currently.
CP Nkereuwem Akpan acknowledged the NAPTIP team for the good works they had been doing and promised to work in synergy with them.
He promised to always assist the organisation in anyway the command could to eradicate trafficking, rape and other abuses in Bayelsa.
The CP said that the command would assist in intelligence gathering, saying that drug abuse was one of the main causes “that makes young people to abuse and rape young girls forcefully”.
Akpan called on parents to caution their children and be watchful of the kind of friends they kept to avoid falling prey and become delinquents in the society.
The Comptroller of Immigration, Mr Felix Odika, said that the NIS was ready to collaborate with NAPTIP in curbing trafficking and illegal migration.
He said NAPTIP had been living up to its mandate and expectations as statutorily required of it. “You have been doing your job properly, we urge you never to be deterred from the job.
“Before the creation of NAPTIP, we collaborated with the police; anytime we arrested traffickers, we did necessary documentation and handed them over to the police.
“So, your agency has been doing its job, knowing that the Director-General is a very vibrant woman trying to eradicate trafficking in Nigeria,” he said. (NAN)
– June 9, 2020 @ 11:35 GMT |
Tags: NAPTIP partners Bayelsa State security agencies to combat human trafficking
