Trafficking: NAPTIP Boss Storms Asaba Days After CDHR Allegedly Accused Delta Govt Officials

As part of its public awareness drive, the Director General of National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), Dame Julie Okah-Donli and official of the agency on Thursday took Asaba, the Delta State capital by the storm by taking the campaign against child trafficking to Governor Ifeanyi Okowa.

BIGPEN ONLINE reports that this is coming barely few days after the Committee for the Defense of Human Rights(CDHR) in Delta State alleged that a child trafficking sydicate was operational in the state.

Okah-Donli said that she and her team were in Asaba to seek the assistance of the Delta State government to curb the twin menace of human trafficking and irregular migration.  

In her address, she said, “the problem of human trafficking and irregular migration have become of great national concern, especially with the large number of Nigerians trapped in sexual and labour exploitation in various African and European countries, apart from the hundreds that continue to die in the Sahara desert and the Mediterranean sea.”

While addressing the agency’s boss, Governor Okowa, as a way to stem the surge in irregular migration cum human trafficking, had advocated that security agencies should go after those who spread deceitful stories to lure innocent Nigerians.

According to the governor,  “we are very disturbed with the number of persons involved in irregular migration; most of them travel oversee because they have been told stories how rosy it is out there and in most cases, these persons find themselves in countries where their economies are not better than that of Nigeria.

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“Security Agencies should look out for those who are carrying out the deceitful messages, they may be operating as cartels or what do you call it? When they stop deceiving people, irregular migration will reduce,” the governor said. 

He added, “as a state government, we will carry out enlightenment campaigns because, if you do not take enough time to get our people properly informed, they will enter wrong hands.”

“We have a lot of youth engagement programmes, training and empowering our youths but, it is unfortunate that number of people who want to seek greener pastures abroad is still high; we want to appreciate you, NAPTIP for what you are doing, we want to assure you of our cooperation for irregular migration to be reduced,” Governor Okowa stated.

In attendance at the meeting were Secretary to State Government, Hon. Ovie Agas; Chief of Staff Government house, Hon. Tam Brisibe; Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Barr. Peter Mrakpo and Commissioner for Information, Mr. Patrick Ukah, Women Affairs Commissioner, Rev. Mrs Omatsola Williams among others.

BIGPEN ONLINE recalls that CDHR had alleged that the Delta state Chief Judge, Justice Marshall Mukoro and Women Affairs Commissioner, Rev. Mrs Omatsola Williams were aiding and abetting child trafficking ring in the state.

The human rights group made the allegations at a press conference in Warri, and called on Department of State Security, DSS to arrest and prosecute the duo and others allegedly involved in the dastardly act, saying the act has been going on under the watch of the duo and some officials of the ministry of women affairs in the state.

Chairman of the body, Dr. Kehinde Prince Taiga and his secretary, Comrade Jonathan Giama, who addressed newsmen in Warri, claimed that evidence abound of how the cartel have been carrying out their nefarious activities and such evidence already presented to the security agencies.

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Recalls that the Women Affairs Commissioner had sometime ago through the Director of Child Development, Ministry of Women Affairs, Community and Social Development Mr. Fred Ogheni, dismissed the allegation as false, claiming the state government adheres strictly to relevant laws guiding adoption of suspected ophans and adoption processes.

Also, Mrs. Omatsone, Director of Peoples Right Department, Ministry of Justice, Asaba had earlier said the allegations are far from the truth.