NAPTIP DG Raises Alarm Over New Human Trafficking Tricks | Nairalaw

The Director General of the National Agency for the Prohibition
of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), Julie Okah-Donli, has raised an
alarm over what he described as new tricks employed by human
traffickers.

Okah-Donli who was speaking during an interactive meeting with
the Edo State Task Force against trafficking in Benin City lamented
that the menace appears to have heightened despite measures to curb
it.

She urged all stakeholders to be vigilant as they go about their
duties while also dismissing the notion that only underage girls
can be victims of trafficking.

“You must beam your searchlight on transporters. Go to the motor
parks because this is where they take these girls from. Then you go
to the waterside, they take the boats too,” she said.

“By the time you seize one bus, prosecute the bus owner,
prosecute the driver, trust me they will stop carrying people.

“The traffickers are not waiting for us, they are always on the
move and they are very fast, so we must be ahead of them at all
times. Then you also have to look at orphanages.

“There’s a lot of orphanage trafficking going on but a lot of
people don’t know.

“Some of them actually kidnap children from the local
communities on the streets and put them there.

“Human trafficking is not about underage girls so when you talk
about underage girls, you miss the point.

“I can be trafficked; a 50-year-old woman can be trafficked.
Anybody can be trafficked so it’s not about underage girls. Even
boys can be trafficked as well”.

Also speaking on the matter, the chairman of the Edo State Task
Force, Yinka Omorogbe, stressed the importance of collaboration by
stakeholders in tackling the scourge.

She also promised that the agency will work with the tips shared
by NAPTIP during the meeting.

Drug Abuse: Gov Sani-Bello Closes Drug
Shops

Niger State Governor, Alhaji Abubakar Sani-Bello has ordered
immediate closure of drug shops found engaging in sales of hard
drugs and the prosecution of promoters of such pharmacy.

He gave the directive when he played host to members of Niger
State Council of Traditional Rulers led by Etsu Nupe, Alhaji Yahaya
Abubakar in his office at the Government House in Minna, the state
capital.

The Governor who expressed concern over the effect on
socio-cultural fabric of the state said the administration would
deploy new strategy to address the menace.

He stressed that the fight against drug abuse will require the
support of all stakeholders and relevant bodies to work on blocking
all supply channels.

“We will consolidate more on addressing security challenges in
the state. We will give drug abuse priority because we noticed that
most of the criminal activities are carried out under the influence
of drugs.

“Having identified hard drugs as a major factor of criminal
activities, we have to come up with strategy of blocking all supply
channels and also follow up to ensure that black marketing does not
flourish as a result of this.”

The governor then assured the royal fathers that his
administration will continue to work with traditional institution
in the state, just as he commended the traditional rulers for the
support they have given to his administration within the past four
years.

“Your counsel, prayers and intervention has contributed strongly
to whatever success story we have to tell. You have displayed
extreme patriotism by using your respective positions to ensure
harmony, togetherness and most importantly , you have played a big
role in bringing the people together to achieve our common goal as
people of Niger State.

According to the Governor, “we will continue to uphold the
prestige and integrity of our traditional rulers. We cannot afford
to relegate our royal father’s position in the society because that
will affect us in every aspect.”

Earlier, Chairman, Niger State Council of Traditional Rulers and
Etsu Nupe, Alh. Yahaya Abubakar who spoke on behalf of the
traditional rulers in the state assured the Governor of their
support throughout his tenure and promised to continue to work for
the peaceful coexistence of the people of the state.

The Estu Nupe expressed joy over his victory at the
gubernatorial polls and prayed for a successful tenure in office,
as well as for peace , growth and development of the state and the
country.

Jibrin Baba Ndace
Chief Press Secretary
19 March 2019