Tag: Binta Adamu Bello

The Director General of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), Binta Adamu Bello, said the Agency has secured two life imprisonment sentences of high-profile individuals in Nigeria through the implementation of the Violence Against Persons Prohibition Act.

She also said the Agency has over 1557 cases in courts and has provided support to over 5000 survivors through shelters, legal aid, psychosocial services, and reintegration programmes.

The DG said this at the Agency’s Headquarters, Abuja, while speaking on the 10th anniversary of the passage of the Violence Against Persons Prohibition Act (VAPP), 2015.

She promised to go after rapists and Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) through increased prosecution and proactive implementation of the VAPP Act.

In a statement by the Press Officer of NAPTIP, Vincent Adekoye, the DG promised to enhance the protection of Nigerians from issues of SGBV.

The Director General, while lauding the efficacy of the Act, said: “Today marks a significant milestone in Nigeria’s journey towards a just, inclusive, and violence-free society. The VAPP Act, signed into law in 2015, is 10 years old. This landmark legislation remains one of Nigeria’s most comprehensive legal frameworks for the protection of human rights, especially for women, children, and other vulnerable groups.

“As the Director General of NAPTIP, I am immensely proud to announce a decade of impactful implementation of the VAPP Law, which has been domesticated and gazetted by 32 states across Nigeria.

“Over the past 10 years, we have raised the bar for justice and given voice to the voiceless, empowering survivors of violence to seek redress. We have protected the vulnerable, restored dignity to victims, and enhanced support systems for survivors of abuse. We have contributed to the restoration of peace and harmony in homes, communities, and institutions affected by gender-based violence.

“We have fought relentlessly to end the culture of silence and impunity, ensuring that perpetrators are held accountable under the law”.

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She continued: “The journey has not been without challenges, but our resolve has remained unshaken. With the unwavering support of our partners, stakeholders, and civil society, NAPTIP has successfully secured 25 convictions of perpetrators, including two life imprisonment sentences of high-profile individuals in Nigeria, with over 1557 cases in courts and provided support to over 5000 survivors through shelters, legal aid, psychosocial services, and reintegration programs.

“As we celebrate this 10-year milestone, we reaffirm our commitment to strengthened enforcement of the VAPP Act across all States of the federation by scaling up advocacy and enlightenment to ensure that every Nigerian understands their rights under this law, collaboration with traditional, religious, and community leaders to deepen grassroots impact, and a proactive, data-driven approach to tackling all forms of violence, especially those rooted in harmful cultural and gender norms”, she stated.

The Director General thanked the Ministry of Justice and the other stakeholders for their collaboration and partnership with NAPTIP, which culminated in the successful implementation of the legislation.

“While extending our heartfelt gratitude to all who have walked this journey with us and survivors who continue to show courage, the law enforcement officers, healthcare workers, legal advocates, development partners, and the general public, we promise double portion of trouble for perpetrators in the years ahead”, the DG said.

…IOM proposes freezing bank accounts of traffickers 

The Director-General of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), Binta Adamu Bello, has called for stronger collaboration among ECOWAS member states to eradicate human trafficking in the region.

Speaking in Abuja during the launch of food donations under an ECOWAS-supported project for trafficking victims, Bello stressed the need for collective action.

In a statement by NAPTIP’s Press Officer, Vincent Adekoye, she emphasized that addressing human trafficking requires urgent and coordinated efforts due to the region’s vulnerability to the crime.

She said: “NAPTIP has always recognized the critical need for collaboration to effectively combat human trafficking and provide the necessary support to the victims of this heinous crime. Our partnership with the ECOWAS Commission has been instrumental in enhancing our capacity to protect victims and provide them with comprehensive care.

“Through the generous support of the ECOWAS Commission, we have received on behalf of victims of human trafficking in Nigeria, supply of food items and other basic needs for the victims to give credence to the implementation of the ECOWAS Regional Policy on Protection and Assistance to Victims of Trafficking in Persons. 

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“This initiative serves as a vital framework for the region, guiding us in offering standardized, effective care and assistance to trafficking victims.

“The tripartite collaboration among ECOWAS as the donor, IOM as the implementer, and NAPTIP as the beneficiary is a clear demonstration of how collective action can result in meaningful change. The donation of food items today is just one example of a commitment to ensuring that victims of human trafficking in the ECOWAS member states receive the protection and support they deserve”.

While thanking ECOWAS for their support and IOM for their efficient implementation, she expressed optimism that as a team, a future where human trafficking no longer thrives is possible. 

The Nigeria Permanent Representative to ECOWAS represented by Mr. Ehi Hillary Iyinbo, and the Representative of the Directorate of Humanitarian and Social Affairs, ECOWAS, Mr. Olatunde Olayemi commended the NAPTIP DG for her leadership style which has continued to result in improved collaboration and modest achievement for the Agency and Government of Nigeria.

He said, “NAPTIP has been a model, not just within the West Africa region, but within Africa and beyond. We know this because we have continued to study the Agency and have noted their achievements and promoted them outside Nigeria. The DG of NAPTIP, while in Liberia,  was the chair of the ECOWAS focal group on Human Trafficking, and of course, she not only chaired excellently, she also assisted us in driving through many of the outcomes of the various engagements”.

The Chief of Mission of the International Organization for Migration (IOM), Paola Pace, said, “As IOM, I believe that we have a responsibility to support our member states to eliminate trafficking in persons. It is a crime.

“So, we need more in terms of protection of victims and survivors and rebuilding their lives to overcome the terrible exploitation they went through. But it is also important that we continue to work on prevention as well as freezing bank accounts of the traffickers and prosecution of the network”, she said.

Items donated include food items, consumables, basic needs of the victims like clothing, welcome packs for rescued victims, and others.