NAPTIP urges renewed crackdown on human traffickers

The Director General of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons, Binta Adamu Bello on Friday called for more collaborative efforts, particularly from the members of the public for an increased crackdown on human traffickers across Ogun State and the country as a whole.

The Director General who was represented by the NAPTIP Commander, Ogun State, Bosede Jimoh made this call on Friday while leading others stakeholders including the members of security agencies such as the police, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, the Federal Road Safety Corps, the Non-Governmental Organisations among others in sensitization walk around Abeokuta metropolis to mark this year World Day Against Trafficking in Person.

The Abeokuta sensitisation walk was held in conjunction with Ogun State Taskforce on Human Trafficking, the International Centre for Migration Policy Development as well as NAPTIP, Ogun State Command.

Some of the places touched during the sensitization walk were Kuto, Isabo, Sapon, Itoku and Lafenwa markets.

Bello said that the theme of this year’s celebration is “Human Trafficking Is Organized Crime-End The Exploitation” and that everyone must rise up to support the government to dismantle the network of traffickers and equally hold the perpetrators accountable for their wickedness against humanity.

She stated that within the last two years that NAPTIP began operations in the state, it has handled over 50 cases of human trafficking, secured three convictions against perpetrators while seven cases are still pending before the court with many more cases currently under investigation.

The NAPTIP DG stated that “The truth is that Ogun is one of the endemic states in terms of human trafficking based on the numbers of cases that we have received since we came on board in the state in August 2023.

We have handled over 50 cases of human trafficking ranging from child labour, sextortion, sales of babies among others. We have so far secured three convictions, we have seven pending court cases and other cases are under investigation

“So today, we are telling parents and community to be careful and observant, they should not fail to report on time cases of suspected human trafficking to NAPTIP

People must be abreast of the sophistication of human traffickers who are devising all sorts of ways to perpetrate their devilish works. Some of them are family friends, neighbours, acquaintances and so everyone must be watchful so as not to fall victims.

“Parents, communities must watch out for the kind of friends their children move with, peer influence is one of the factors fueling human trafficking. Others are unemployment, dysfunction in families, the get-rich-quick syndrome, ignorance among others.”

Also speaking with journalists during the sensitization walk, Prof Olubunmi Ashimolowo, the Executive Director of Gender Development Initiative demanded that a lot more need to be done by every Nigerian to win the war against the human traffickers

Prof Ashimolowo also described the human trafficking situation in Ogun as becoming concerning because the state is now among the three leading states in human trafficking in the country calling for more concerted efforts to reverse this horrible trend.

She disclosed that “The perpetrators of human trafficking have gone into primary schools, communities, even higher institutions to perpetrate their illicit activities against humanity. We want everyone to join us in the fight.

“We want people to join hands with the government and other stakeholders to tackle this evil headlong. The community should brace up on reporting any act of human trafficking to the appropriate security agencies and most expecially, NAPTIP.

“We find both the children and the elders being kidnapped for organ harvesting, sextortion, drugs and all kinds. The public can call this hotline 08033469577 for help whenever they have report to make about human trafficking.

“The situation is pathetic in Ogun state because it is usually Edo and Delta that are usually at the peak but currently research has shown that Ogun State is both a destination and the source when we talk of human trafficking that is why we have to do something about it and get this thing stopped. Ogun State must not lead in terms of human trafficking. As we speak, Ogun is among the first three states leading in human trafficking.”

The Chairman of Human Trafficking Taskforce in the state, Kolawole Soremi also described the human trafficking situation in the state as very concerning but lauded the state government for teaming up with other stakeholders to go after the perpetrators and destroy every effort of the human traffickers across the state.