Benue govt, NAPTIP rescue 63 trafficked victims in 1year, arrest 16 suspects, prosecute 7
Benue State Government in collaboration with National Agency for Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), and other partner organizations have rescued 63 kidnapped citizens of the state in the last one year.
The rescued victims include an infant baby that was about to be sold by the biological mother in Makurdi, the Benue state capital.
The Principal Special Assistant (PSA) to Governor Hyacinth Alia on Human Trafficking and Child Labour, Hon. Emmanuel Anundu disclosed this on Thursday while briefing newsmen on the achievements of his office in the last one year.
Anundu, who noted that the Alia administration is doing his very best to curb the tide of human trafficking and child labour in and around Benue state, also disclosed that within the period under review, 16 suspected kidnappers have been arrested with seven of them prosecuted and convicted.
He however lamented the challenges faced by the younger generation who are daily trafficked by persons without any form of humanity describing the briefing as a call for action about Human Trafficking and Child Labour activities in Benue State and Nigeria as a whole.
The PSA appreciated his principal, Governor Hyacinth Alia for demonstrating capacity, showing unwavering commitment and providing an enabling environment in funding and logistics, towards eradicating the deadly and ugly menace in the state said the establishment of the office of the Principal Special Assistant (PSA) on human trafficking and child labour is the first of its kind in the state and Northern Nigeria and should be emulated by others.
He said “The office in collaboration with National Agency for Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), Nigerian Immigration Service, International Organisations and other various NGOs, has brought about notable and remarkable reduction in human trafficking incidents in the past one year as evidenced in the recent ranking in global human trafficking index from 13.2 to 12.0%.”
According to him, his office has established a working synergy with the Nigeria Police Force to foster cooperation in curbing Human Trafficking in the state as well as strengthening diplomatic partnership with the Nigeria Immigration Service, Benue State Command, which has been instrumental in recovering victims of trafficking in the state.
In a breakdown, Anundu said his office working in synergy with other organizations “Escalated the repatriation of Benue State victims of Human trafficking from various African countries including; Mali, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Chad, and Niger, facilitated by the International Organisation for Migration (IOM).
“Coordinated the rescue of two young girls who were deceived and trafficked from Benue State to Lagos by Mrs. Erdoo Awume and initiated legal action against the culprit for proper prosecution.
“Escalated a proper investigation of the Igbo woman who was apprehended in Masaka, Karu LGA of Nasarawa state in connection with the kidnapping of two little girls alleged to have hailed from Katsina Ala local government in Benue State and the repatriation of the victims.
“Rescue and coordinated the return of 3 ladies from Logo LGA that were trafficked to Lagos and were about to be taken to Ghana for sex slave, arrest and prosecution of Mr. Samuel who lured ladies into pornography, constituting a serious Cyber insecurity within the state and rescue of Tiley Gyado College girls from the clutches of traffickers who intended to send them to Libya for commercial sex work.”
He also noted that in collaboration with the Benue State Fashion Hub, the state government have created training programs for the survivors of human trafficking to enable them not only get back on their feet but become economically viable and self reliant just as his office has collaborated with the media to lead public education campaigns focused on the dangers and risks associated with Human Trafficking.
While he acknowledged the efforts of Benue State Taskforce against human trafficking as well as all Religious and Traditional leaders towards ensuring free human trafficking era in a short while, Anundu solicited continued collaboration of all stakeholders to achieve the set goal of zero percent Human trafficking and child labour in the state
