NAPTIP Parleys Witch Doctors on Tackling Human Trafficking

The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in
Persons (NAPTIP) on Monday disclosed that it now parleys with local
witchdoctors in Benin City, Edo State as part of efforts at
checkmating activities of human traffickers in the country.

The Director General of NAPTIP, Julie Okah-Donli, who made the
disclosure at a symposium and training for NAPTIP’s officials in
Abuja, said traffickers employ highly sophisticated means including
diabolical, hence the efforts by the agency to harness all
available instruments to effectively tackle the menace.

She said most victims of human trafficking were taken to a
shrine to swear to an oath of secrecy and allegiance before a local
witch doctor, hence the need to engage these witch doctors and
convert them into NAPTIP’s ambassadors.

“When we gathered these witchdoctors recently to sensitise them
on what human trafficking victims go through in Europe, they were
shocked.

“And they have made their commitments to work with us to fight
the menace of human trafficking,” she said.
Speaking on the topic: ‘Combating the Scourge of Human Trafficking:
The Journey so far,’ the DG said the menace of human trafficking is
a huge challenge before the country with serious security
implications.

She disclosed that in combating human trafficking, NAPTIP had
put in place various national policies ranging from prevention,
protection and prosecution of traffickers.

“Since inception, the agency has successfully prosecuted
hundreds of cases and obtained 335 convictions as at December 2017,
and now 338.

“The traffickers are serving various jail terms in different
states of the federation and abroad and other cases that are
pending in various courts are at different stages of
disposal/judgment.

“Assets of convicted traffickers have been forfeited to the
Victims of Trafficking Trust Fund on the orders of the court,” she
said.

While thanking the Conference of West African Attorneys General
(CWAG), organisers of the symposium, Okah-Donli said the one day
symposium and two day training workshop is a child of necessity as
it seeks to create awareness on the subject matter of human
trafficking in Nigeria by enhancing the knowledge, dept and
expertise required to to effect positive changes in the fight
against human trafficking in Nigeria.

On his part, a board member of CWAG, Macus Green stated that
perpetrators of human traffickers also use it as a cover up for
other frauds such as money laundering, drug pushing amongst
others.

He disclosed that over $150bn is generated annual by
perpetrators whose activities and crimes poses serious security
threats, adding that with the training, NAPTIP officials would be
more equipped in tackling the menace.

The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in
Persons (NAPTIP) on Monday disclosed that it now parleys with local
witchdoctors in Benin City, Edo State as part of efforts at
checkmating activities of human traffickers in the
country.

The Director General of NAPTIP, Julie Okah-Donli, who made the
disclosure at a symposium and training for NAPTIP’s officials in
Abuja, said traffickers employ highly sophisticated means including
diabolical, hence the efforts by the agency to harness all
available instruments to effectively tackle the menace.

She said most victims of human trafficking were taken to a
shrine to swear to an oath of secrecy and allegiance before a local
witch doctor, hence the need to engage these witch doctors and
convert them into NAPTIP’s ambassadors.

“When we gathered these witchdoctors recently to sensitise them
on what human trafficking victims go through in Europe, they were
shocked.

“And they have made their commitments to work with us to fight
the menace of human trafficking,” she said.
Speaking on the topic: ‘Combating the Scourge of Human Trafficking:
The Journey so far,’ the DG said the menace of human trafficking is
a huge challenge before the country with serious security
implications.

She disclosed that in combating human trafficking, NAPTIP had
put in place various national policies ranging from prevention,
protection and prosecution of traffickers.

“Since inception, the agency has successfully prosecuted
hundreds of cases and obtained 335 convictions as at December 2017,
and now 338.

“The traffickers are serving various jail terms in different
states of the federation and abroad and other cases that are
pending in various courts are at different stages of
disposal/judgment.

“Assets of convicted traffickers have been forfeited to the
Victims of Trafficking Trust Fund on the orders of the court,” she
said.

While thanking the Conference of West African Attorneys General
(CWAG), organisers of the symposium, Okah-Donli said the one day
symposium and two day training workshop is a child of necessity as
it seeks to create awareness on the subject matter of human
trafficking in Nigeria by enhancing the knowledge, dept and
expertise required to to effect positive changes in the fight
against human trafficking in Nigeria.

On his part, a board member of CWAG, Macus Green stated that
perpetrators of human traffickers also use it as a cover up for
other frauds such as money laundering, drug pushing amongst
others.

He disclosed that over $150bn is generated annual by
perpetrators whose activities and crimes poses serious security
threats, adding that with the training, NAPTIP officials would be
more equipped in tackling the menace.