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Tag: Human trafficking

  • Fayemi declares zero-tolerance for human trafficking

    Ekiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi has declared his administration’s zero-tolerance for human trafficking.

    Fayemi said his administration would not relent in its efforts to rid the state of human traffickers.

    The governor added that the government has  put in place institutional measure to eradicate these inhumane practices and ensure that those engaged in such illegal acts are made to face the full rot of the law.

    The deputy governor, Otunba Bisi Egbeyemi, spoke yesterday on behalf of Fayemi during the inauguration of  the State Task Force on Human Trafficking and the Justice Sector Reform Committee at the Conference Hall of the Governor’s Office, Ado Ekiti.

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    According to a statement signed by the Special Assistant (Media) to the Deputy Governor, Odunayo Ogunmola, the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Olawale Fapohunda, is the chairman of the two committees.

    Fayemi said committee members were carefully selected based on their experience and pedigrees, urging them to see the assignment as a call to duty.

    Thanking them for accepting the offer to serve, the governor prayed God to give them the wisdom to discharge the assignment aimed at reforming the society.

  • NAPTIP partners NUJ to battle human trafficking

    The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons and other related offences (NAPTIP) has called for collaboration with members of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) in the fight against human trafficking in Sokoto state.

    NAPTIP Zonal Commander in charge of Sokoto, Kebbi and Zamfara states, Mr Tahir Hassan, said this yesterday when he led officials of the agency on a visit to NUJ Sokoto State council.

    Hassan said the partnership with journalists was necessary in view of the important role they play in Information dissemination as well as sensitising residents of the state on the dangers associated with human trafficking.

    He explained that the usual cases rampant in the zone include child abuse, exploitation and maltreatment of minors that sometimes come with bodily injuries.

    The NAPTIP commander said that partnership with stakeholders was among the agency’s working direction as others included prevention and prosecution.

    He said the public awareness on the agency’s mandates were desirable at all times.

    Hassan also said the agency recorded five convictions last year while a number of cases were still pending before the Federal High Court.

    The commander further said that the agency successfully rescued hundreds of trafficked victims who were rehabilitated and reunited with their respective families.

    He said it was regrettable that traffickers had adopted states in the zone as a transit route in spite of the agency’s sustained onslaught on them in collaboration with other sister agencies and relevant stakeholders.

    He described NUJ as one of the critical stakeholders in the struggle because the media’s role was to educate, enlighten and sensitise the public.

    “We believe, you will help us sensitise the public on the danger of trafficking, this is the reason why we are here to solicit for your support and cooperation,” Hassan added.

    Responding, the chairman of the Sokoto state council of NUJ, Malam Isa Shuni, challenged the agency to redouble its effort in eradicating the menace.

    Shuni noted with dismay how some parents give out their children to be used as housemaids or servants, which in most cases lead to their exploitation and abuse.

    “This is very sad because they are being denied the right to acquire education and become meaningful persons to the society,” he said.

  • Human trafficking: Swedish govt backs Obaseki’s call for more action

    Coordinator for Migration and Refugee Issues at the Swedish Ministry for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Nicola Clase, has said European countries, which are destinations for victims of human trafficking and illegal migration, need to do more to discourage the practice by implementing laws to prohibit sex trade.

    Clase, who works with the Department of Conflict and Humanitarian Affairs in the Swedish Ministry for Foreign Affairs, made the submission during a courtesy visit by the Swedish delegation, to Edo State Governor, Mr Godwin Obaseki, at Government House, in Benin City.

    She said in 1999 the Swedish Government came up with a legislation prohibiting purchase of sexual gratification, and noted that the law has helped the country combat illegal migration and human trafficking.

    According to her, “We take trafficking in persons very seriously. We are celebrating 20 years of the legislation passed to prohibit the purchase of sexual favours. There should not be a market in Europe for trafficking and we want more countries to follow suit and have this kind of legislation.”

    Clase commended the Edo State Government’s approach to combating human trafficking, adding that the visit by the Swedish delegation will enable both governments share information and strengthen cooperation in combating the ills of illegal migration.

    Responding, the Edo State Acting Governor, Rt. Hon. Comrade Philip Shaibu, said the Obaseki-led administration enacted a law as part of efforts to combat human trafficking, leading to the establishment of the Edo State Taskforce Against Human Trafficking (ETAHT) to enable the state government deal with cartels involved in the illicit trade.

    Shaibu said the state government is doing more to create empowerment and employment opportunities for the youth to discourage them from embarking on irregular migration.

    He said the Governor Obaseki-led administration was ready to strengthen collaborations with Sweden and the European Union on economic advancement, noting, “We are creating a vibrant economy so that our youths can learn technical skills and become productive. This will ensure that irregular migration will be addressed and young people will be encouraged to undertake legal migration as well as exchange programmes.”

  • US applauds Obaseki’s economic reforms, fight against human trafficking

     …As Shaibu assures of state’s resolve to sustain initiatives

    The Charge d’ Affairs and Deputy Chief of Missions United States (US) Embassy in Abuja, David Young, has applauded the Edo State Government’s unrelenting and well-articulated efforts in creating jobs for youths as well as initiatives to curb human trafficking and illegal migration in the state.

    Young, who made the submission during a courtesy visit to the Government House, in Benin City, Edo State, commended the state government’s efforts to create jobs and opportunities for youths in the state, noting, “We are here to talk about your plans to revitalize the economy and create jobs and opportunities for young people.”

    The US diplomat said the state government through the Edo State Taskforce Against Human Trafficking (ETAHT) is working tirelessly to combat trafficking in persons, applauding “the excellent effort and steps taken in Edo by the inter-agency taskforce to arrest the menace. It is commendable that the state government signed the anti-human trafficking law and set up the Edo State Taskforce Against Human Trafficking. We salute the Taskforce. We also commend the anti-trafficking law which moves to codify prosecution for those involved in trafficking in persons.”

    He added that the delegation is in the state to explore areas in which it can provide support to the government to prevent young people from falling victims of human traffickers.

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    Young also praised the collaboration between the state government and the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), stating: “We commend the information sharing and coordination on prosecution with NAPTIP in the fight against trafficking in persons which are in line with the three P’s strategy of Prevention, Protection and Prosecution, to move against trafficking, a horrific crime with adverse effect on young people.”

    On his part, the Acting Governor, Rt. Hon. Comrade Philip Shaibu, noted that the state government realised that “the only way we to move the state forward is to keep the youth engage.”

    Shaibu blamed human trafficking on bad governance in the past which caused the people to lose hope in the country, noting that the state government is changing the narrative with its economic reforms and skills development programmes, such as

    He said EdoJobs provides job opportunities for youths through capacity building, equipping them with in-demand employability skills for gainful employment as well as empowerment programmes and training to make them successful entrepreneurs.

    Shaibu added that youths are engaged in agricultural activities, and also in the Public Works Volunteers (PUWOV) scheme to help in intelligence gathering for security agencies in the state.

    Front row: Acting Governor, Edo State, Rt. Hon. Comrade Philip Shaibu (2nd right); Charge d’ Affairs and Deputy Chief of Missions United States (US) Embassy in Abuja, David Young (2nd right); Commissioner for Justice and Attorney General of Edo State, Prof. Yinka Omorogbe (left); Head of Service, Mr. Isaac Ehiozuwa, during a courtesy visit by the US Deputy Chief of Mission, to the Government House, in Benin City, Edo State.

  • Human trafficking, migrant smuggling threat to security, says IGP

    The Inspector General of Police, Ag. IGP Mohammed Adamu has decried the spate of human trafficking and migrant smuggling in Nigeria.

    The police boss said the menace has become a major internal security challenge that poses grave threat to the victims and the countries involved.

    The IGP disclosed in Abuja on Monday at a workshop organised by Interpol to counter trafficking in human beings and migrant smuggling in Nigeria.

    He said: “Nigeria and indeed the continent of Africa have been experiencing a surge in the menace of trans-border trafficking in persons and smuggling of migrants.

    “These illegal activities do not only pose a threat to the victims as individuals but also to the countries involved at both ends.

    “The Nigeria Police, working in collaboration with the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) and the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) have been at the forefront in the fight against the menace.

    “The Nigeria Police under my leadership shall continue to support the two agencies while strengthening its institutional capacity towards addressing the threat of human trafficking.”

    Speaking on present and future efforts to curb the menace, Adamu said: “The Nigeria Police raised the bar by upgrading the Anti-Human Trafficking Section of the Force with the appointment of a Commissioner of Police to head the Section.

    “In addition to this, the Police have over the years, remained faithful to the inter-agency framework of seconding police officers to NAPTIP to support and enhance their investigative and operational capacities towards attaining their anti-human trafficking mandate.

    “I can assure that these initiatives shall be sustained under my leadership as the Inspector General of Police.”

    He also promised to engage the Heads of NAPTIP and all other strategic security agencies with mandate for managing human trafficking and migrant smuggling with a view to strengthening inter-agency collaborative efforts and exploring new pathways that will advance the fight against the menace.

    “In addition, I shall continue to deploy our unique intelligence and operational assets and draw on my strong network with INTERPOL to support this initiative, just as I will also be engaging with international agencies and foreign development partners towards achieving the goals of addressing the transnational crime of human trafficking and migrants smuggling.

    “These sets of actions are essential because human trafficking and smuggling of migrants is an organized and transnational crime which requires multi-agency and multinational collaborative approach to effectively combat.”

    Speaking on the impact of the menace, the Acting Head of National Central Bureau, Deputy Commissioner of Police, DCP Lanre Bankole said the fight against the scourge has proven difficult because most victims are under serious threat and intimidation.

    He said: “Fighting human trafficking and migrant smuggling has been a challenging task because the victims were either unsuspecting tools or were subjected to some forms of intimidation and threats of violence with grave consequences to the victims. This makes it difficult for victims to come forward and seek for help.”

    On how to combat it, Bankole said: “This challenge can be mitigated through proactiuve policing of our borders, vigorous and sustained synergy among stakeholders especially intelligence gathering and sharing among other collaborative efforts.”

    The workshop had in attendance participants from the Nigeria Police, Nigeria Immigration Service, Nigeria Customs Service, National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons and other relevant agencies.

  • Four arrested for alleged human trafficking

    Four persons have been arrested by the operatives of the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) in connection with alleged human trafficking to Italy for prostitution.

    The command arrested Mrs. Mary Omowaye, 35, at its passport office in Ado-Ekiti on Tuesday while trying to procure international passports for the victims to travel to Italy for illegal work.

    The victims included: Adegoroye Abiodun, 24, Akinsanmi Titilayo Blessing, 30, and Adeyan Motunrayo, 20, all from Idanre town in Ondo State.

    Addressing reporters while handing over the procurer and the victims to the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) yesterday, NIS Comptroller Ekiti Command Mrs. Ifeoma Benedict Dibia said they were apprehended after her men got a tip-off.

    She added that her operatives have intensified efforts to rid the state of human trafficking, child labour and prostitution, considering the startling revelation by Governor Kayode Fayemi that Ekiti had become a transit state for the illicit business.

    The comptroller said most painful and disturbing was the fact that the trend of human trafficking was common among children from broken homes.

    She said Omowaye was operating in connivance with one Mr Jamiu, who normally processed visas for the victims in Lagos and her sister, Jumoke, who is based in Italy.

    “One of our responsibilities is to stop human trafficking and child’s labour. When these young women came to our passport section to get international passport, we interrogated them and suspected that this could be an illegal migration.

    “They said they are going there to do hairdressing and work as house-helps, but this was how they used to trick and traffic the victims to other countries, only to get there and used them for prostitution.

    “After interrogating them, we knew that they didn’t know what they were going there to do. Some of the victims are molested and died in the process.

    “What we normally do is to arrest people like these, profile them and hand them over to NAPTIP for prosecution.

    “We are going to work in tandem with NAPTIP to arrest the chief syndicates, Mr Jamiu in Lagos and Jumoke in Italy for prosecution. We are also going to reunite the victims with their families for protection,” Dibia said.

    While being quizzed by NIS operatives, the procurer, Omowaye, said it was not true that she tricked the victims to travel to Italy for prostitution.

    “This is not true; my younger sister there has been helping people to travel. Even my 19- year-old daughter is there, she works as a shop keeper. We are just trying to help them”, she said.

    One of the victims, Jumoke, said she is a hairdresser and her plan was to go there and do the job, adding that the issue of prostitution did not arise.

    “The woman in Italy is the one sponsoring us. We are going to work for her for six months when we get there and regain freedom. That was the agreement reached with us,” she said.

     

  • 6,000 human trafficking cases reported, says NAPTIP

    No less than 6,000 cases of human trafficking had been reported, the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) has said.

    The agency said 3,600 of the cases have been investigated.

    NAPTIP Director-General Mrs Julie Okah-Donli said this in Warri yesterday when she led some staff of the agency from its headquarters and the Benin Zonal office on a visit to the Olu of Warri, Ogiame Ikenwoli.

    According to her, the agency had secured 363 convictions while it had 10 shelters across the country to rehabilitate those rescued from the hold of human traffickers.

    She said 836 out of the 13,285 victims rescued from the hold of traffickers were from Delta.

    In 2017, three out of the total suspects convicted were from the Delta state, she said.

    She said Delta was currently ranked second in human trafficking, adding that the agency needed to collaborate with all stakeholders, especially, the traditional institution to fight the scourge.

    Okah-Donli also said that human trafficking was the second largest illegal-income-generating venture after illegal arms deal.

    According to Okah-Donli, in September, the agency employed three former victims whom it rescued and sponsored their university education.

    The DG said that plans were at an advanced stage to introduce the study of human trafficking into the nation’s school curriculum with a view to sensitising young ones to the evils of human trafficking.

    She appealed for partnership and support in the provision of shelters as well as donations of rehabilitation materials for victims.

    Okah-Donli also appealed to the traditional ruler to consider a partnership with the agency that would put a stop to “juju” herbalists aiding traffickers to administer oaths on victims.

    Responding, Ogiame Ikenwoli gave his assurance that he would partner and support the agency in whatever was necessary.

    He commended the agency for its fight against human trafficking, saying it was causing people lots of suffering.

  • Civil Defence rescues victims

    Edo Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) rescued 12 human trafficking and child labour victims in the last five months, Commandant  Makinde Ayinla said at the weekend.

    He spoke to News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) during a one-day workshop on the menace of human trafficking and illegal migration in Benin City.

    NAN reports that the workshop, with the theme: “Sensitisation of Students on the Menace of Human Trafficking and Illegal Migration”, was organised by the command.

    Ayinla said the corps needed to sensitise students on the ills of human trafficking because of the danger victims were exposed to.

  • NSCDC rescues 12 victims of human trafficking in Edo

    The Edo Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) says it has rescued about 12 victims of human trafficking and child labour in the past five months.

    Mr Makinde Ayinla, State Commandant of the Corps, disclosed this on Friday in Benin during a one day workshop on the menace of human trafficking and illegal migration.

    The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the workshop with the theme: “Sensitisation of Students on the Menace of Human Trafficking and Illegal Migration was organised by the Edo Command of the NSCDC.

    Ayinla said that it had become imperative for the corps to sensitise students on the ills of human trafficking in view of the prevalent danger victims were exposed and subjected to.

    He noted that human trafficking had claimed the lives of many Nigerian citizens, making early sensitisation of students imperative.

    The commandant said that the first sentence of the Act establishing the Corps which is “Security of Lives and Properties”, highlighted the need for the corps to join in the fight against the menace.

    Ayinla noted that the power of a nation lay with factors such as security, education, manpower, technological know-how and the youths.

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    According to him, the youths suffer the most in African nations even though they are the backbone of the development of any nation in the world.

    He listed the challenges confronting the youths to child labour, street hawking, rape, prostitution, trafficking and illegal migration.

    He said the effects of these challenges on the victims were sometimes devastating.

    Ayinla said that the workshop would be an eye-opener to students, parents and stakeholders on the need to intensify efforts at curbing the menace.

  • NAPTIP rescues 52 victims of human trafficking in Edo, Delta

    The Benin Zonal Command of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) rescued no fewer than 52 victims of human trafficking in the third quarter of this year.

    The Zonal Commander of the agency comprising Edo and Delta, Mr Nduka Nwanwenne, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Benin yesterday that the rescue was made from July to  September.

    He also disclosed that within the period under review, 15 suspected human traffickers were arrested.

    He disclosed that 37 cases were reported within the same period, while the zone secured one conviction,with 34 cases still pending in courts.

    The Zonal Commander said the Edo judiciary had designated two courts to handle  cases of human trafficking.

    He explained that with this development, there would be speedy trial of such cases, thereby enabling quick dispensation of Justice.