Benue Govt, IOM, NAPTIP Rescue An Infant, 62 Others
By Armstrong Tseaa, Makurdi
The International Organisation for Migration (IOM), National Agency for Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) and Benue State government in collaboration with other partner organisations has recorded great milestones in the battle against human trafficking in the state.
The Principal Special Assistant (PSA) to Governor Hyacinth Alia on Human Trafficking and Child Labour, Hon. Emmanuel Anundu, dropped the hint on Thursday while speaking to newsmen on the achievements of his office in the last one year.
He disclosed that the organisations working with his office have rescued 63 kidnapped citizens of the state including an infant baby whose biological mother was about to sell in Makurdi.
Hon. Anundu stated further that “within the period under review, 16 suspected kidnappers were arrested with 7of them prosecuted and convicted.”
“This briefing is a clarion call on the relevant authorities and stakeholders like parents, schools, religious and community groups, the federal government, state governments as well as the international community concerning human trafficking and child labour activities in Benue State and Nigeria as a whole” he said.
He lamented the challenges faced by the younger generation who are daily trafficked by persons without any form of humanity. He called for all hands to be on deck to urgently stem the tide of the monster called human trafficking and child labour.
Hon. Anundu appreciated his principal, Governor Alia, for his love for humanity, unshakable commitment and for providing an enabling environment in funding and logistics for the eradication of the menace in the state.
He described the setting up of the Office of the Principal Special Assistant (PSA) on human trafficking and child labour as the first of its kind in the state and Northern Nigeria.
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%.”
“My office has initiated a working synergy with the Nigeria Police Force and Nigeria Immigration Service, Benue State Command to foster cooperation in curbing human trafficking in the state as well as strengthening diplomatic ties that has been instrumental in recovering victims of trafficking in the state.
The International Organisation for Migration (IOM) facilitated the repatriation of Benue State victims of human trafficking from various African countries like Chad, Ghana, Niger, Ivory Coast, Mali and Niger.
He submitted that 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.
“A proper investigation was carried out of an 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.
“I will not forget the rescue and coordinated 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 narrated.
He appreciated the Benue State Fashion Hub for training programs for the survivors of human trafficking to become self reliant after their rescue, the media who are leading public education campaigns focused on the dangers and risks associated with human trafficking.
He also saluted the contributions of the Benue State Taskforce against human trafficking as well as all religious and traditional leaders towards achieving the set goal of zero percent human trafficking and child labour in the state.