The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Josiah Emerole

  • NAPTIP cautions Nigerians against fake online publications on recruitment

    The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons ( NAPTIP ) has cautioned Nigerians to disregard the online publications purporting that it is currently recruiting workers.

    Mr Josiah Emerole, NAPTIP’s Head of Press and Public Relations who gave the warning in a statement in Abuja on Tuesday, said the agency was not recruiting.

    “Our attention has been drawn to online publications announcing a purported recruitment of personnel at NAPTIP for 2018/2019.

    “For the records, there is no recruitment exercise going on in NAPTIP at present and the advertisement online is fake and fraudulent.

    “Members of the public are therefore urged to disregard this fraudulent claims and announcements,” he said.

    Emerole explained that if the agency was carrying out any recruitment, it would duly inform the public through appropriate channels.

    He advised the public not patronise anyone that approached them with such an offer or pay money to anyone for employment as NAPTIP had nothing to do with such people.

    NAN

  • NAPTIP arrests 11 suspected child traffickers, recovers children

    NAPTIP arrests 11 suspected child traffickers, recovers children

    The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons ( NAPTIP ) on Wednesday said it arrested 11 persons over suspected child trafficking, abduction and sale of children in Anambra.

    Mr Josiah Emerole, the NAPTIP Head of Press and Public Relations, said this in a statement in Abuja.

    Emerole stated that the suspects were nabbed in different parts of Anambra in a combined operation carried out with the support of operatives of Directorate of the State Services (DSS).

    He noted that the suspects, comprising eight women and three men, were said to belong to a criminal syndicate which specialised in kidnapping and sale of babies across the country, notably the States of the South-East, Lagos and Abuja.

    The spokesperson disclosed that three children whose ages range from eight months to four years were recovered during the operation, while scores of other children believed to be trafficked by the gang were yet to be found.

    According to him, among the children is a two-year-old girl reportedly stolen from Lagos sometime ago and another four-year-old boy allegedly stolen from his parents in Gudaba in FCT.

    He added that the boy’s parents were yet to be traced to collect the child.

    “The parents of the eight months old child are yet to be traced, while the two years old child whose four year old brother is yet to be recovered has been identified by her parents.

    “The baby was stolen from Okpoko in Anambra and recovered in Lagos.”

    He said one of the arrested suspects, Rosemary Okafor (30 years old) allegedly sold one of her four children, a newborn baby, to one woman simply identified as Madam Pink at the cost of N350,000.

    Emerole noted that the suspect confessed to have sold the baby to be able to train the other three in school.

    He stated that the suspects were in custody of the Enugu Zonal Command of NAPTIP, while the rescued children and the remaining three children of Rosemary Okafor’s victims were presently receiving required services at the agency’s shelter.

    He, however, added that investigation was ongoing and the culprits would
    be prosecuted accordingly after investigation.

    NAN

  • Human trafficking: NAPTIP hands over 17 victims to relatives

    Human trafficking: NAPTIP hands over 17 victims to relatives

    The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons ( NAPTIP ) says it has handed over 17 victims of the 18 intercepted at a clinic in Maitama, Abuja to their relatives.

    The Head of Press and Public Relations, Mr Josiah Emerole said this in Abuja on Wednesday.

    Emerole explained that out of the 18 persons, 17 of them were victims of human trafficking while the remaining one person held by his agency was a suspected agent.

    We recall that the Abuja Environmental Protection Board ( AEPB ) intercepted 18 suspected victims of human trafficking at a clinic in Maitama on Feb. 22 before it handed them over to NAPTIP.

    Mr Muktar Ibrahim, Head of Information and Outreach of AEPB had explained that 18 women were apprehended at a clinic and diagnostic centre in Maitama around 8 p.m. by a team of AEPB officials on night patrol.

    The women, who were purportedly on their way to Saudi Arabia, were allegedly directed by their traffickers to conduct some medical tests before they embarked on the journey.

    The NAPTIP’s spokesperson said that the agency handed the victims over to their relatives with a condition to provide them whenever they were needed as the case was still under investigation.

    He said that the agent was still being held by NAPTIP while the suspected traffickers were at large.

    According to him, his agency will do everything possible to arrest the suspects and bring them to book.

    Emerole noted that none of the victims had valid documents including international passports.

    He said that nine of the victims were from Kano state, four from Katsina, two from Nasarawa, two from Kwara and one from Jigawa state.

    NAN

  • Human trafficking: NAPTIP rescues 14 victims at Nnamdi Azikiwe airport

    Human trafficking: NAPTIP rescues 14 victims at Nnamdi Azikiwe airport

    The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons ( NAPTIP ) has rescued 14 victims at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.

    The Head of Press and Public Relations of NAPTIP, Mr Josiah Emerole, told our reporter in Abuja on Thursday that the operation followed a tip off.

    Emerole explained that the victims, who were rescued around the mosque at the airport, comprised of 14 women and two men.

    “Officers of NAPTIP, following a tip-off, intercepted a group of 14 women between the ages of 15-60 years travelling to Saudi Arabia via the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.

    “The two agents from Kano who accompanied them on the trip had been arrested and detained by the Nigeria Immigration Service and the Department of State Services as investigation is ongoing.

    “The interception and arrest of two agents travelling with the women came as a result of a patriotic Nigerian’s observations of the women’s movement and activities at the airport.

    “It is unclear yet as to the purpose of their trip to Saudi Arabia, though, in recent time, there have been increasing reports of exploitation being experienced by labour migrants in countries in the Middle East,” he said.

    Emerole assured that NAPTIP would leave no stone unturned in ensuring that more Nigerians do not end up as victims of exploitative domestic servitude in foreign countries.

    He said that the victims were being profiled at the NAPTIP headquarters to ascertain their proper and correct identities.

    NAN checks revealed that that the suspects wanted to take the victims to their destination in Saudi Arabia through Abuja en-route Lagos before they were nabbed at the Abuja airport.

    NAN

  • NAPTIP arrests herbalist for allegedly selling newborn baby

    NAPTIP arrests herbalist for allegedly selling newborn baby

    The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking In Persons ( NAPTIP ) said it arrested a 38 year old herbalist, Chigozie John Emmanuel, A.K.A ‘Akuchi’, for allegedly selling neonate.

    This was announced in in a statement by the Head, Press and Public Relations of NAPTIP, Mr Josiah Emerole, in Abuja on Sunday.

    Emerole explained that the suspected trafficker sold the new born baby to a woman whom he promised to make pregnant through spirituality.

    He said that Emmanuel, who hailed from Enugu State, owned Akuchi Herbal Concept at New Nyanya, Abuja.

    He was arrested after weeks of surveillance by officers of the agency and those of the Department of State services.

    Read also: NAPTIP to introduce `Traffic in Person’ in schools’ curriculum – Official

    According to him, Emanuel has been previously arrested by the Nigeria Police, when a woman was caught with a baby in Abuja enroute Minna.

    The spokesperson said that the herbalist told his victim he had made her pregnant and cautioned her not to go to the hospital for any medical treatment or ante-natal care.

    He said that based on the victim’s narration, when it was time for her ‘delivery’, Emmanuel directed her to Port-Harcourt where a baby was handed over to her.

    Emerole disclosed that the woman confessed to have paid  the suspected trafficker N650,000 for the baby.

    He noted that the suspect, who was arrested at the weekend, was currently under investigation for alleged child trafficking and would be arraigned as soon as investigation was concluded.

    The spokesperson reported the Director-General of NAPTIP, Dame Julie Okah-Donli, as commending the officers for their painstaking surveillance which culminated in the arrest.

    “She further warned the public, especially women, to stop patronising such ‘herbalists’, as the sale of babies is a crime punishable by law.

    “I am urging couples who wish to adopt a child to go through normal procedure acceptable by law.

    “I am reiterating the commitmen of the agency to tackle child trafficking in Nigeria.

    “I am appealing for more information from the general public about any such act or ‘illegal maternity homes’ in their neighbourhood where these unwholesome activities take place” she said.

    NAN

  • NAPTIP arrests housewife for burning sister in-law with boiled water

    NAPTIP arrests housewife for burning sister in-law with boiled water

    The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), has arrested a 24-year-old housewife, Mrs Basira Sagiru, for pushing her sister-in-law into a pot of boiling water.

    The Head, Press and Public Relations Unit of NAPTIP, Mr Josiah Emerole, confirmed the arrest while speaking to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Saturday.

    NAN reports that Sagiru pushed her sister-in-law, who is living with her into a pot of boiling water over a minor disagreement in the house.

    The victim, whose name was given as Hasiya Ibrahim, was reported to have suffered high degree burns before some good Samaritans rescued and took her to NAPTIP headquarters in Abuja.

    Emerole told NAN that the victim was under the custody of NAPTIP for medical attention.

    He said that the suspect was picked up on Oct. 19, and immediately the matter was reported to NAPTIP and was awaiting further investigation.

    He said the agency would decide the next line of action when investigations were concluded.

    NAN reports that part of NAPTIP’s mission is to prevent all forms of human degradation and exploitation through law enforcement agents thereby uplifting the vulnerable, especially women and children. (NAN)

  • Human trafficking: NAPTIP begins operation at UK airports

    Operatives of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) selected for the joint operations with the Border Force of the United Kingdom have commenced work at the London Heathrow and Gatwick Airports in Britain.

    The team comprising male and female operatives arrived London at the weekend and commenced work immediately.

    A statement issued on Monday by the Head of Press and Public Relations of NAPTIP, Josiah Emerole, said their operations include profiling of passengers, especially Nigerians, with a view to identifying Potential Victims of Trafficking (PVoT), their traffickers and collaborators.

    The British authorities recently approved joint operations between NAPTIP operatives and the UK Border Force at the two airports.

    They are expected to randomly profile passengers and identify PVoT and suspected traffickers.

     

  • Notorious human trafficker arrested in Edo, three victims rescued

    Notorious human trafficker arrested in Edo, three victims rescued

    The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) on Sunday said it has arrested a notorious human trafficker and rescued three victims from his residence in Benin.

    Mr Josiah Emerole, the Head, Press and Public Relations, NAPTIP, disclosed the arrest in a statement issued in Abuja.

    Emerole disclosed that the 33-year-old man, Monday Ugbo, was nabbed after several weeks of surveillance by the operatives of the agency.

    He explained that the NAPTIP Benin Zonal Command arrested the suspected human trafficker at his residence located at number 72 Osayande St., Upper Sakponba Road, Benin City, Edo.

    “Operatives of our agency have been on his trail for several weeks, following regular mention of his name in a number of human trafficking cases being handled by the Zonal Command.

    “Following intelligence reports that he was harbouring some girls in his house preparatory to their being trafficked abroad, the operative swooped on him in the early hours of Friday.

    “He was caught in the process of receiving a registration fee of N50,000 he had demanded from a prospective victim,” the spokesman said.

    According to him, the preliminary investigations revealed that the suspect is also preparing to take the three girls to a River that morning for oath taking before they could embark on the journey to Europe.

    He said that Ugbo claimed to be a bricklayer and has been in the business of human trafficking for a long time operating with another woman now at large.

    The spokesperson added that the suspect was in the agency’s custody giving useful statements.

    Emerole quoted NAPTIP’s Director-General, Mrs Julie Okah-Donli, while reacting on the breakthrough commended the operatives, assuring that there is no hiding place for human traffickers anymore in Nigeria.

    Okah-Donli noted that the agency and its partners had resolved to collaborate more appropriately in stopping further trafficking of Nigerians both within and outside the country.

    Meanwhile, the NAPTIP spokesman has disclosed that the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) had handed over 21 rescued victims of human trafficking to NAPTIP.

    He said that the age range of the victims was between 18 and 34 years, while one suspected trafficker was also handed over.

    According to him, 12 of the victims comprising five males and seven females were handed over to the Kano Zonal Command of the agency by the NIS after they were intercepted at Babamutum border area of Katsina State by the NIS border patrol.

    Emerole said that the victims were being moved outside the country as at the time they were rescued.

    He stated that another nine, all females, were handed over to the NAPTIP headquarters in Abuja by the NIS headquarters while attempting to procure International passports to travel out.

    The spokesman added that all the victims were presently with the agency for profiling and counseling. (NAN)