The Nation Newspaper

Tag: National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP)

  • EFCC to go after human traffickers – Magu

    EFCC to go after human traffickers – Magu

    Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission ( EFCC ), Mr Ibrahim Magu, has expressed the commission’s resolve to go after human traffickers.

    Magu said this when a delegation from the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons ( NAPTIP ) visited him in Abuja.

    Spokesman of the commission, Mr Wilson Uwujaren, who reported the visit in a statement, said the NAPTIP delegation was led by its Director-General, Dame Julie Okah-Donli.

    Magu said the anti-graft agency had jurisdiction over human trafficking, which he said, was an offshoot of corruption.

    “We are prepared to go after human traffickers, because we strongly believe that it is an aspect of corruption, and corruption is the greatest enemy of Nigeria.

    “Corruption is the reason why young Nigerians are risking their lives walking through the Mediterranean up to Spain and other European countries in search of greener pasture.

    “It is a very sad situation, and we must change the trend by ensuring that we join hands to fight corruption, as this is the only solution to the ills militating against our country’s development,” he said.

    While calling for NAPTIP’s partnership in the fight against corruption, Magu assured Okah-Donli of the EFCC’s support in combating the increasing cases of “organ harvesting” involving Nigerians.

    “EFCC has an enormous task in the fight against corruption, and NAPTIP is also a stakeholder in the fight, so we also need your assistance and collaboration,” he said.

    Okah-Donli, who said the visit was part of the agency’s familiarisation efforts, used the opportunity to highlight NAPTIP’s strides in combating human trafficking in the country.

    According to her, the agency has busted a number of criminal activities, recorded 331 convictions since 2004, with various other ongoing cases at advance stages in courts.

    She added that NAPTIP had rescued many trafficked youths who were being rehabilitated and given a new lease of life.

    Okah-Donli said: “organ trafficking, which is now becoming a big business, is another form of human trafficking”.

    She said many youths were being lured into it and they become afraid to come out to tell their stories.

    The DG requested for assistance of the EFCC in confiscating assets of traffickers, and also in the area of training and developing its own academy. NAN

  • 826 Nigerians voluntarily returned from Libya in one month – NEMA

    826 Nigerians voluntarily returned from Libya in one month – NEMA

    The National Emergency Management Agency ( NEMA ) says a total of 826 Nigerians stranded in Libya, enroute Europe, voluntarily returned from the North African country in October.

    The Director General of NEMA, Alhaji Mustapha Maihajja, made the disclosure while receiving a fresh batch of 270 Nigerians who arrived the country on Tuesday.

    Maihajja, represented by the South West Zonal Coordinator of the agency, Alhaji Suleiman Yakubu, said the returnees were assisted back to Nigeria by the International Organisation for Migration ( IOM ) and the European Union ( EU ).

    He said that the fresh batch added to 138 Nigerians earlier brought back on Oct. 3; 257 on Oct. 24 and 161 on Oct. 26 made the total number of returnees in October 826.

    The NEMA boss urged the returnees to contribute their quota to national development, stressing that the quest to build Nigeria required the support of all and sundry.

    NAN reports that the new set of returnees arrived the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos at 7.30pm aboard a Libyan Airline aircraft with registration number 5A-LAU.

    They comprised 216 female adults, 13 teenage girls and five infants, while the male adults were 27, 18 were teenage boys and nine, baby boys.

    Other agencies which received the returnees were the Nigerian Immigration Service ( NIS ), the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons ( NAPTIP ), the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria ( FAAN ) and the Police.

    NAN

  • NAPTIP investigates human organ harvesting in Nigeria

    NAPTIP investigates human organ harvesting in Nigeria

    The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons ( NAPTIP ) says it will commence investigation into illegal human organ harvesting in the country.

    Organ harvesting is the illegal removal of human organ or tissue without a person’s consent; generally to be sold on the black market for organ transplants.

    The Director General of NAPTIP, Ms Julie Okah-Donli disclosed this on Saturday while speaking in Abuja.

    Okah-Donli said that cases of organ harvesting was complicated but NAPTIP would carry out full investigation in order to bring perpetrators to book.

    She decried the rising cases of organ harvesting in the guise of ritual killings in some parts of the country.

    “NAPTIP has decided to begin full investigation because most of the times, other law enforcement agencies go out, they will come to tell us that the suspected organ harvesting is a ritual murder.

    “And we have resolved to carry out our independent investigation because the law gives us the power to do that and we have strong reasons to believe that these are cases of organ harvesting.

    “When that is established after our investigation, we will go after everyone found involved with the full arm of the law” she said.

    The director general said that NAPTIP under her watch would continue with its mandate of fighting all forms of human trafficking in the country.

    Organ trafficking is a form of human trafficking and is an organized crime. According to the UN Gift Hub, organ trafficking falls into three categories.

    Traffickers who trick the victim into giving up an organ for no cost; con artists who convince victims to sell their organs, but who do not pay or who pay less than they agreed to pay; and doctors who treat people for ailments which may or may not exist and remove the organs without the victim’s knowledge.

    NAN

  • Another 257 Nigerians return from Libya

    Another 257 Nigerians return from Libya

    The National Emergency Management Agency ( NEMA ) on Tuesday received another 257 Nigerian voluntary returnees flown back from Libya.

    The returnees arrived at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, in a chartered Airbus A330-200 flight with Registration number 5A- LAT at 9.15pm.

    They had been stranded in the course of their failed attempt to cross over to Europe through the volatile North African country.

    The returnees were assisted back to Nigeria by the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) while the Italian Government provided the aircraft.

    They were handed over to the Zonal Coordinator of NEMA Southwest, Alhaji Suleiman Yakubu, who received them on behalf of Federal Government.

    The female among the returnees comprised 241 adults, two children and five infants while the male comprised four adults, four teenage boys and one infant.

    Yakubu enjoined the returnees to embrace the change mantra of the federal government.

    He urged them to remain positive and focused on contributing their quota to national development, instead of seeking greener pastures where it doesn’t exist.

    Yakubu noted that they would not be treated as second class citizens in their own country, unlike what they face abroad after migrating illegally.

    He disclosed that the European Union was providing the reintegration assistance, urging them to make use of the initiative and better their lives.

    Other agencies present when Yakubu received the returnees were the Nigerian Immigration Service ( NIS ) , the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons ( NAPTIP ), the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria ( FAAN ) and the Police.

    NAN

  • Nigeria restates commitment to zero tolerance for trafficking

    Nigeria restates commitment to zero tolerance for trafficking

    Nigeria has restated commitment to zero intolerance for human trafficking, saying it had put in place strong measures to reduce the menace to the barest minimum in the country.

    The Ambassador/Permanent Representative of Nigeria to Vienna, Mrs Vivian Okeke, stated this in New York, at the High-level Meeting of the General Assembly on the Appraisal of the UN Global Plan of Action against Trafficking in Persons.

    Okeke said Nigeria considered the meeting very important in view of the need for global solidarity and cooperation to fight trafficking in persons.

    “Nigeria is not exempted from the scourge. It has been both a destination country and an export country where vulnerable persons, especially young women and boys, are lured across the Sahara to other continents, especially Europe.

    “Our Government has zero tolerance for trafficking of human beings, whether young or old, men or women. This is why we put in place strong institutional measures and legislations,’’ she said.

    The ambassador said the measures would ensure that those engaged in such illegal acts to face the full wrath of the law.

    “Nigeria has long criminalised trafficking in persons and has taken several efforts to actualise our national priorities at fighting the menace.”

    Okeke said one of the measures taken by Nigeria against human trafficking was the establishment of a permanent mechanism – the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons ( NAPTIP ).

    The Nigerian envoy said NAPTIP was established in 2003 to rescue, assist, and support and cater for victims of human trafficking as well as arrest, prosecute and jail the perpetrators.

    She also said the Trafficking in Persons Enforcement and Administration Act of 2015 had broadened the scope of national legislation against trafficking in Nigeria.

    According to her, Nigeria can be classified as one of the few countries in the world that has in operation, potent legislative regime against trafficking in persons.

    “Nigeria has expanded its prosecution mechanism against trafficking in persons.

    ‘’In this regard, and going by the recent statistics from NAPTIP, 345 victims of trafficking were rescued during the first quarter of this year.

    “This figure brings the total number of persons rescued from trafficking, since the establishment of NAPTIP to 10,815.

    “In the area of prosecution and arrest, 90 traffickers were arrested for various forms of human trafficking during the same period.

    “This figure includes 50 females and 40 males. Also, of the 42 cases referred to various courts for prosecution, 22 have been successfully charged and prosecuted.

    “Nigeria has also strengthened international partnership and collaboration in the area of fighting trafficking in persons.

    “This collaboration has yielded mileage in the rescue of victims as well as prosecution of human traffickers.

    “For instance, out of 345 victims rescued by NAPTIP in the first quarter of this year, 288, representing 83.5 per cent of those rescued were through international collaboration and partnership.

    The Nigerian envoy called on the global community to intensify supports for the operation of the United Nations Voluntary Trust Fund for Victims of Trafficking.

    This she said became necessary to make it relevant to the fight against trafficking in persons.

    “Nigeria reaffirms its commitment to the efforts of United Nations Office of Drugs and Crime and Inter-Agency Coordination Against Trafficking in Persons in sustained operations to end trafficking in persons.

    “We, therefore, advise against any attempt to undermine the work of these bodies in their collective efforts to discharge their mandates.

    NAN

  • 121 stranded Nigerians return from Libya

    121 stranded Nigerians return from Libya

    The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) on Wednesday said it had received another batch of 121 stranded Nigerians from Libya.

    The Zonal Coordinator of NEMA, Mr Suleiman Yakubu, received them on behalf of the Federal Government, enjoining them to learn from their unpleasant experiences in the course of their sojourn.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that NEMA had on Aug. 29 received another batch of 139 returnees from Libya.

    NAN reports that the total number of Nigerian returnees brought back from Libya by the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) from February, 2017 to date is 2,638.

    Yakubu said the aircraft that transported them arrived the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) at 5:30p.m on Wednesday aboard a chartered Airbus SA320 Nouvelair Flight with Registration number TS-INA.

    According to a statement signed by Mr Ibrahim Farinloye, the South-West Spokesman of NEMA, Yakubu said that the agency received the 121 returnees from the officials of IOM.

    The zonal coordinator explained that on arrival, the profiling of the returnees indicated that there were 60 female adults, one girl, while male adults were 57 with two male children and a male infant.

    “The total returnees are 61 females and 60 males amongst them are two pregnant women and one with medical issues.

    “One of the returnees, Ms Omolara Owoade, who hails from Apomu in Osun, claimed that she spent one year and two months in Libya.

    “Owoade worked as a cleaner in a hospital and when it was time for her to collect her salary, she was accused of stealing and taken to prison from where the IOM came to her rescue.

    “She said N662, 000 was collected from her by a trafficker and vowed that she would get her money back from her trafficker once she returns to Nigeria.

    “Owoade also narrated to NEMA, on her arrival, that many Nigerians are suffering the same fate,” Yakubu said.

    He also explained how Ms Iyabo Abiola from Oyo State narrated how she fell victim to the deceitful talks of the traffickers, who deceived her with a promise of 4,000 dollars per month.

    Yakubu said that Abiola vowed to expose the traffickers, usually called burger, to NAPTIP.

    The NEMA zonal coordinator said that the deportees were also received by officers from the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS), the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), the Police and the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN).

  • Human Trafficking: Obaseki seeks home-grown solution

    Human Trafficking: Obaseki seeks home-grown solution

    …Sets up Task Force

     

    The Governor of Edo State, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, on Tuesday inaugurated the State Anti-Human Trafficking Task Force, a measure that will proffer a new set of home-grown solutions to the age-long social problem.

    Obaseki lamented that the state was fast becoming synonymous with human trafficking and charged the taskforce to urgently redeem the state’s image as Edo people do not want to be associated with the stigma any more.

    The new measure according to him, would complement the efforts of the federal government through the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking In Persons (NAPTIP) and other international organizations involved in the fight against human trafficking.

    “It is has been suggested that a special court be established in the state to prosecute perpetrators. We are losing our young people to this negative trend and we must make human trafficking a thing of the past in the state,” the governor said.

    He charged the task force made up of representatives of security agencies, Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), NAPTIP, Ministries, Departments and Agencies of government, religious and traditional institutions, to come up with modalities on how to domesticate the federal government’s law on trafficking in the state.

    The taskforce was also charged to come up with a comprehensive action plan for combating trafficking in persons as well as programmes that will help in reintegrating victims of the illicit trade into the society.

    In her remarks, the Chairman of the task force, Professor Yinka Omorogbe, who is also the Attorney General of the state, commended the governor for the initiative and said that it would bring an end to the problem, with the cooperation and support of all members of the society.

    She assured that members of the taskforce would live up to the confidence reposed on them and pledged that a working document would be ready within the six-week period given to them.

  • NAPTIP promises tough time for human part sellers, traffickers

    NAPTIP promises tough time for human part sellers, traffickers

    The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) says it is committed to end emerging trend in human trafficking and selling of human parts in the country.

    Ms Julie Okah-Donli, NAPTIP Director- General, said this when speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Tuesday.

    She explained that traffickers were now desperate to make quick money as they had come up with new trend of selling human parts.

    “The new trend now in human trafficking is human organ transportation or organ harvesting so to speak. They sell humans an organ of now, it has gone beyond prostitution.

    “They think selling of human parts is easier to make more money, unfortunately, that is the latest way of human trafficking now.

    “The agency under my watch will not spare anyone caught in the act,’’ she said.

    Okah-Donli said that the agency would continue to collaborate with security operatives in the country to arrest the ugly situation.

    She said that people should not make poverty and unemployment as factors responsible for their indulgence in human trafficking.

    The NAPTIP boss explained that she had created anti-corruption unit to fight corruption among the personnel of the agency, warning that any officer found wanting would be dealt with accordingly.

    Okah-Donli said that the agency had been doing a lot in terms of awareness creation to reduce menace of human trafficking.

  • Drug traffickers make $320billion yearly, says NDLEA

    Drug traffickers make $320billion yearly, says NDLEA

    …Over 70,000 suspects arrested in two years

     

    A drug trafficking syndicate generates $320billion, approximately N115.2trillion annually, the National Drug Law and Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) said Tuesday.

    This is just as the agency said it arrested a total of 77,558 persons for drug trafficking between 2015 and last year.

    NDLEA’s Chairman, Muhammad Abdallah stated this at a-day seminar organised by the Crime Reporters Association of Nigeria (CRAN) to commemorate the International Day Against Drug and Human Trafficking.

    Abdallah, who was represented by Kayode Adeniyi, described drug trafficking as the most lucrative business, noting that its high profit was a motivating factor for the traffickers.

    The event which held at the Renaissance Hotel, Isaac John, Ikeja, was attended by senior police officers, operatives of the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS), National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons  (NAPTIP) and private security practioners, among others.

    Abdallah said: “The NDLEA first discovered a methamphetamine laboratory at Maza-Maza area of Lagos in 2011 and till date 12 other laboratories have been discovered in Lagos, Anambra and Delta States.

    “Of the arrested 77,558 drug traffickers, 72,735 are males and 4,823 females. So, you can see that the business of drug trafficking is not gender based.

    “It is very painful that Nigeria has been implicated as a source, transit and destination point for drugs and human trafficking.”

    According to Abdallah, all hands must be on deck to check the menace, urging other security agencies to corporate by sharing intelligence.

    Earlier, the chairman of the event, Wale Olaoye noted that human trafficking would surpass illegal arms sale if nothing was done to contain it.

    Olaoye, who is the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Halogen Security said: “We are looking to change the narratives as Nigeria tops other countries in production and seizure of hard drugs. Nigeria also has the highest number of persons serving jail terms for drug offenses in the world which should be of great concern to us.

    “The laws governing human and drug trafficking needs to be made stiffer because fines no longer make them effective to check the menace. There is need for a robust and effective border control system.”

    In his remark, the Commissioner of Police (CP) Fatai Owoseni called for an overhaul of the adoption system currently in place.

    Represented by the Area D Commander, Akinbayo Olasuji, an Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) called for attitudinal change.

    According to him, there was a department in the police that handles cases of abandoned children and illegal adoption.

    NAPTIP’s representative, Mrs. Kehinde Akomolafe said: “Human trafficking is a crime that cannot be committed by one person but syndicates. It is similar to money laundering and drug trafficking.

    “Sometimes, the victims see the trafficker as their benefactor, which is a major challenge and NAPTIP has set up nine zonal offices across the country to checkmate the menace.

    “Human trafficking is an evil that can be contained through collaboration with transit and destination countries.”

    Akomolafe disclosed that the law against human trafficking has been reviewed, adding that the fine option has been removed and provision made for the proceeds of trafficking to go into a Trust Fund for victims.

    NIS’ representative, Comptroller Odutola Fashakin said: “Our officers are trained to reject passport requests from suspected traffickers. Surveillance has also increased at our 774 offices and we are collaborating with other security agencies. We have signed MoU with some countries to check the menace of human trafficking.”

    A guest lecturer, Segun Adegoke said the NIS was implementing effective policy measures to check the control of persons in out of the country.

    Adegoke, a Passport Control Officer (PSO) said: “Also for effective border management, surveillance had increased and a new border patrol has been established to partner with security agencies to check human trafficking.

    “Officers are trained to check irregular migrants and we sometimes inspect hotels. We have deportees’ bio data.”

    Speaking on the spate of baby factories, Frank Mba, an ACP said: “Baby factory as a form of human trafficking is thriving locally and internationally and it is a major concern.

    “This is usually as a result of stigmatization of teenage and pregnancies gotten out of wedlock.

    We need to check the demand/ supply chain and also sensitize people that teenage pregnancy is not a crime against humanity.

    “Government should subsidize fertility treatment and streamline adoption in the country.”

     

  • Spain deports 23 Nigerians for various offences

    Spain deports 23 Nigerians for various offences

    The Spanish Government on Tuesday deported 23 Nigerians for committing various offences in the country, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.

    They were deported barely five days after 34 Nigerians were sent home from six European countries for committing immigration-related offences.

    NAN reports that 34 Nigerians were jointly deported by six European countries on June 22 for committing immigration-related offences.

    The deportees were sent back home from Switzerland, Germany, Iceland, Austria, Belgium and Hungary.

    NAN gathered that the new set of deportees arrived at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMlA) Lagos, at about 6.40 a.m on Tuesday.

    The new deportees, comprising 21 males and two females, were brought back in a privilege style aircraft with registration number EC-IZO.

    DSP Joseph Alabi, the spokesman of the Lagos Airport Police Command, confirmed the development to NAN.

    Alabi said that the deportees were received by officers of the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS), the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) and the Police.

    He said that others also on ground to receive them were officials of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).

    According to him, nine of the deportees, who were deported for drug-related offences, were handed over to the NDLEA.

    He said that two others, who were deported for criminal offences, were handed over to the police.

    Alabi said that the remaining 12 deportees, accused of breaching the country’s immigration rules, were profiled and allowed to go to their respective destinations.