The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) has called on the general public to expose any staff of the agency involved in aiding and abetting human trafficking for appropriate sanctions.

NAPTIP’s Head of Press and Public Relations Unit, Mrs Stella Nezan, gave the challenge in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Abuja.

She tasked Nigerians to report any officer involved in any case of human trafficking.

Nezan noted that the Director-General of NAPTIP, Ms Julie Okah-Donli, had made it clear to members of staff of the agency that whoever was caught in the act of complicity during official duty would not be spared.

“The DG has zero tolerance for any act of indiscipline; and she will not spare anyone, no matter who she or he is in the agency, and our boss does not condone any act of official misconduct,” she said.

On the prosecution of sacked officers of the agency, the spokesperson said that NAPTIP was waiting for further directives from the Attorney General of the Federation.

Nezan said that the sacking of the officers was authorised by the Ministry of Justice, being the supervisory ministry.

“Therefore, it is necessary to wait and take directives on the next line of action as regards prosecution,’’ she explained.

NAN recalls that the sacked personnel were involved in offences such as arranging professional sureties for suspects for a fee, and providing information about the operations of NAPTIP to outsiders for a fee, therefore, endangering the lives of their colleagues.

Others were involved in the acceptance of bribes and aiding the escape of suspects, while some were making romantic advances to victims of trafficking as a condition for rendering service to them.

NAN also recalls that one of the sacked personnel was absent from duty from July 2017 to May 2018, without official leave in addition to involvement in financial misconduct. (NAN)

– Sept. 25, 2018 @ 15:19 GMT |