Don't Fall for Antics of Human Traffickers - NAPTIP

By Lucky Isibor

The Benin Zonal Commander of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking In Persons (NAPTIP), Nduka Nwanwenne (Esq), has called on Edo citizens not to fall prey to the antics of human traffickers who may come to them with mouth watering offers to give them lucrative jobs abroad, pointing out that such promises usually end up in prostitution and forced labour. 

Anne Ojugo, (c) giveing a remark at the town hall meeting

Nwanwenne gave the admonishion in a remark at a town hall meeting organised in Benin City by a faith based organisation, the New Apostolic Centre for Development (NCD) to raise awareness on the dangers of human trafficking and sensitise the people about the Edo State government's response to Gender Based Violence (GBV) and the provisions of the Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Law.

The event which was held Thursday, 20 October is part of the implementation of NCD’s Preventing Trafficking in Persons and Responding to Gender Based Violence (GBV) in Edo State project under the European Union Agents for Citizens Driven Transformation   EU-ACT  programme, financed by the European Union and implemented by British Council. 

Nduka Nwanwenne, who was represented by Mrs. Joan Ojiewa, head of  Edo State Command of NAPTIP  public enlightenment unit, described the town hall meeting as apt, saying it's coming at the time of the year when cases of human trafficking are usually on the increase.

While commending NCD for bringing stakeholders together to brainstorm on issues around human trafficking and gender based violence, Ojiewa noted that participants will be equipped to go to their various communities to raise awareness on the dangers of human trafficking and assured that NAPTIP is always available for swift response, should the need arise in any case of human trafficking.

"In NAPTIP, we use the five ps of policy, prevention as we're doing now; protection of victims of human trafficking, partnership, by collaborating with relevant government agencies; international bodies, local organisations, Non-government Organisations, (NGO); public enlightenment and prosecution of offenders."

Welcoming participants to the town hall meeting earlier, Innocent Edemwanria who spoke on behalf of NCD, called on Edo citizens to shun human trafficking and all forms of gender based violence.

In her remarks, a member of the Edo State Gender Based Violence Management Committee and president of the Edo State chapter of Joint National Association of Persons With Disability (JONAPWD), Anne Ojugo harped on the need for citizens to take advantage of the structures put in place by the Edo government for the implementation of the VAPP Law.

While urging citizens to make use of the Vivian Centre when confronted with GBV, Ojugo said, “Edo State government has set up the Sexual Assault Referral Centre (Vivain Centre) to handle cases of rape, defilement, female genital mutilation, spousal battery and other forms of GBV. Citizens should take advantage of the services offered by the centre to ensure that they get justice”.

The Executive Director of Women, Youths and Children Advancement Programme (WOCAP), Agatha Osieke (Esq) and Mrs. Blessing Eromo of CLEEN Foundation  shared their experiences with participants on their advocacy work on gender based violence issues.

Participants who were drawn from Joint National Association of persons with Disabilities, Edo State Chapter, NAPTIP, Edo State Cash Transfer Unit, journalists, market women, faith based groups, artisans and youths, expressed their resolve to stamp out human trafficking and other forms of GBV in Edo State.