NAPTIP Takes Fight Against Human Trafficking to Rivers, Bayelsa States

By Emma Ella

The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) has taken the campaign against human trafficking to Rivers and Bayelsa States with a call on all on indigenes of the two states to rise up to the fight against human trafficking. 

Director-General of NAPTIP, Julie Okah-Donli, wooed the people to join the fight against the menace during an advocacy visit to the former Minister of Labour and a prominent native of Rivers State, Chief Alabo Tonye Graham- Douglas, in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

According to a statement from the Press and Public Relations Unit of NAPTIP, Okah-Donli who was on a familiarisation visit to the two states wants stakeholders to partner with the agency in the fight against human trafficking.

The NAPTIP boss seized the opportunity to enlightened them on the dangers and the gory tales of trafficking, as well as the need for the collaboration of all to curb it. 

The statement added that Okah-Donli bemoaned the new dimensions which the crime of human trafficking have taken, which it noted  now includes, “mass recruitment of young girls to Saudi Arabia by some agents under the guise of providing them with gainful employment, the false recruitment of our youths by so-called sports agents, and the most frightening of it all, organ harvesting”. 

She further added that “the exploitative situations these young ones are faced with at the various points of destination are unimaginable, and a far cry from the rosy picture they imagined”.

The DG disclosed that research has shown that Rivers State is one of the endemic states in Nigeria in human trafficking, especially because of its coastal nature and the presence of many oil servicing companies and their expatriate employees. 

She therefore called on the former Minister to use his position as an influential member of the ruling class and a well-respected citizen of the state to support NAPTIP as the Agency works towards the eradication of human trafficking in Nigeria.

Responding, Chief  Graham-Douglas extolled the Agency for its achievements over the years despite the meager resources it has had to work with; especially in the areas of awareness creation, rescue and protection of victims, as well as ensuring that traffickers receive their due punishment.