Yenagoa—The Zonal Coordinator of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Traffic in Person (NAPTIP), Barr. Nduka Nwanwenne has said the agency has secured 500 convictions of human traffickers since its establishment by the Federal Government, Leadership newspaper reports.
He said even though Nigeria during the establishment of NAPTIP was at a low ebb in organized crime, the agency started with one conviction in 2004 and has had over 500 convictions to date.
Nwanwenne, who made this known during a call on the Chairman of the State Gender Response Initiative Team, Barr. Dise Ogbise in Yenagoa stressed that the issue of human trafficking for any purpose is not an isolated problem to Bayelsa or Nigeria, but a global problem, therefore the need for collaboration with different stakeholders such as GRIT, security agencies, traditional and religious leaders.
Nwanwenne, who is in charge of Bayelsa, Delta and Edo states, was accompanied on the visit by Bayelsa State Commander, Mrs. Abieyuwa Ehidenro, Head of Operation, Daniel Ibe and the PRO Wariebi Sambo, pointed out that building collaboration is enshrined in the law that established the agency. He said Nigeria in 2003 signed to the transnational organized crime protocol.
He pointed out that NAPTIP is the Federal Government of Nigeria’s response to addressing the scourge of trafficking in persons, noting that NAPTIP is both an enforcement and welfare agency that enforces the law and also supports the victim to be reintegrated back into the society through capacity building.
The Zonal Coordinator highlighted the agency’s thematic areas as Prevention, Protection, Prosecution and Participation, adding that his team would be delighted to collaborate with GRIT in these areas to ensure that traffic in persons is minimized in the state as humans are priceless and not commodities that should be purchased and or resold.
He applauded GRIT for what it has been doing in promoting the rights of vulnerable groups and helping survivors get justice, declaring that he has been following up with GRIT activities which are closely related to the mandate of NAPTIP.
Nwanwenne also informed the GRIT that the Bayelsa Task Force of NAPTIP would be inaugurated in the state very soon. The state committee will work to strengthen Sensitization and awareness creation, arrest and provision of a safe home.
He added that his team would be delighted to collaborate with GRIT in these areas to ensure that traffic in persons is minimized in the state as humans are priceless and not commodities that should be purchased and or resold.
The Secretary of GRIT, Inatimi Odio, welcomed the NAPTIP team to GRIT office and assured them of GRIT’s readiness to collaborate with them in curbing organized crime.
Responding, the Chairman of GRIT, Barr. Dise Ogbise informed the NAPTIP team that the GRIT was put together by the First Lady of the State, Dr. Mrs. Gloria Diri and was inaugurated in September 2021 by the State Governor, Senator Douye Diri.
She added that GRIT would continue to collaborate with NAPTIP. Cases of trafficking in person have been referred to the state office, partnered with the office in a road walk.
Ogbise decried women’s involvement in trafficking in persons and assured that GRIT will collaborate with NAPTIP to advocate for the establishment of a safe home in the state, which will strengthen enforcement and sure justice is served.
She stressed the need for inter-agency collaboration, particularly with the police in handling cases of trafficking in person and also the need for capacity building with the police to understand the mandate of NAPTIP to effectively implement the law.
