By Dare Akogun
The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Person (NAPTIP) Kwara State command has secured its first convivtion since its creation in March 2022.
The NAPTIP Commander in the state, Mr. Saadu Mustapha Ajara, revealed this while briefing newsmen on Saturday in Ilorin to mark World Day against trafficking in persons.
Ajara said NAPTIP began operations in the state in March, 2022 as a state command carved out of Osogbo Zonal Command of the Agency, which formerly was covering Kwara, Osun, Ekiti and Ondo States.
He said the Command hit the ground running as soon as it was established and with the effective collaboration of the partners such as NSCDC, Ministry of Women Affairs, Ministry of Social Development and of course, the Zonal Command in Osogbo, the new command secured its first conviction in July 2022 at the Federal High Court llorin.
According to him “the purpose of marking the day amongst other reasons is to create awareness on the dangers of the evil being perpetrated by criminal elements called traffickers who lack feelings for fellow humans, the victims, by exploiting and subjecting them to untold hardships just for their selfish gains.
“NAPTIP, being the Federal Government focal Agency in the fight against Human Trafficking, is mandated to coordinate all efforts geared towards curbing the crime,” he said.
Talking about this years theme which he says, focuses on the use of technology as a tool that can enable and impede human trafficking, urged the Nigerian youths not to be deceived with the so-called greener pastures, noting that this year’s theme for the celebration is “Use and Abuse of Technology”.
The state Coordinator of the Network Against Child Trafficking, Abuse and Labour (NACTAL), Mr Olufemi Oyedeji, described cyber technology as an avenue used by human traffickers to further their nefarious activities under its power of anonymity.
He pointed out that the traffickers use cyber technology to not only mobilise and recruit their victims but also arrange for their transportation and logistics.
Oyedeji called on Nigerians to be on alert and always collaborate with NAPTIP to end the act of human trafficking in the state.
The founder and Chief Executive Officer Global hope for women and children foundation, GLOWOC, Christy Abayomi-Oluwole tasked government at all levels on the need to assure the social status of the citizens and also create job opportunities for the youths.
She said the urge for people wanting to travel out due to promises of economic opportunity which are mostly false, a situation she says will not be prevalent if there enough job opportunities for the youths.
She equally urged media practitioners to intensify efforts on anti-human trafficking awareness campaign.
“Especially among the general public on the ills of human trafficking amid the tactics employed by traffickers in luring their victims into their nets,” she said.
