National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons, NAPTIP, Makurdi Zoanl Command, on Tuesday, joined other states of the federation and the rest of the world to mark the 2019 World Day Against Trafficking in Persons.
The Agency’s Zonal commander, Ganiyu Aganran Alao, led officials of the agency and other stakeholders on a road walk, beginning from the Benue State University, BSU, gate through Wurukum Roundabout and State Library, to sensitize the public on the dangers of trafficking in persons.
Speaking with journalists in his office in Makurdi, the Zonal Commander expressed concerns about the alarming rate of trafficking in persons in the state.
He called on the Benue State government to sustain a smooth synergy with the agency to rid the state of endemic human trafficking issues.
The Zonal Command also urged the Benue state government to show more commitment to the implementation of the state law against human trafficking, even as he said the agency looked forward to partnering in the implementation of the law in the state.
Also informed that though there have been rampant cases of human trafficking in Benue State in recent past, NAPTIP had not relented in curtailing the menace.
He said with various forms of Trafficking fast becoming a flourishing business in identified local government areas, the agency has stepped up awareness campaigns and deployment of its officers to IDP camps.
“For instance, last year alone, we had 86 victims of human trafficking that were rescued by this command. Not only that, last year we had nine convictions of human trafficking and at the moment, we have 17 cases ongoing in the court. We had 57 cases for investigation and monitoring last year and for this year we have already done more than 20.”
He named forced labour, sexual exploitation, foreign travels that promote prostitution, domestic labour and Child Abuse, child molestation, forced marriage, baby theft as well as baby sale as forms of trafficking in the state.
He stated that in compliance with the matching order from Abuja headquarters, “We will be deploying some of our officers to IDP Camps and some areas identified as being endemic; Konshisha, Oju, Obi and Vandeikya to sensitize residents.
Alao further disclosed that the agency headquarters would open a register for sex offenders with effect from July 30, 2019 for prosecution against sexual molestation.
