Prosecute Human Traffickers, Banigo Urges NAPTIP

Rivers State Deputy Gov
ernor, Dr. (Mrs.) Ipalibo Harry Banigo wants the National Agency for the Prohibition and Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) to ensure that anyone arrested for involving in human trafficking is promptly prosecuted to serve as deterrent to others.
Dr. Banigo made the remark while addressing a delegation of officials from the Zonal Headquarters of NAPTIP in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State who paid her an advocacy visit at Government House, Port Harcourt.
She said anyone arrested for trafficking in persons should be exposed and made to face the full weight of the law, due to the negative impact of human trafficking on the society.
The Deputy Governor decried the prevalence of baby factories in the country and charged NAPTIP and other Agencies to work in synergy with a view to clamping down on their nefarious activities.
Dr. Banigo disclosed that the Wike-led administration in Rivers State is committed to addressing the socio-economic problems that give rise to human trafficking as well as enforce existing laws as a deliberate effort to nib the scourge in the bud.
The Deputy Governor stressed the need for NAPTIP to embark on aggressive enlightenment campaigns to educate the public on the danger inherent in trafficking in persons saying that ”it is so important that as a people we should be able to speak out and act in place of the vulnerable people in society, as they are sometimes coerced and used for commercial purposes.”
Dr. Banigo commended NAPTIP for their humanitarian services to the society and assured that the Rivers State Government would partner with them to actualize their slogan which is ”Stop Human Trafficking.”
Earlier in his address, the Zonal Commander of (NAPTIP), Mr. Nwachukwu Ikechi Innocent said the Agency which was created by an Act of Parliament in 2003, has the mandate of coordinating human trafficking activities in the country, as well as arrest, investigate and prosecute any offender of such crime.
Mr. Nwachukwu who commended the leadership strides of Governor Nyesom Wike in the areas of road construction, education, environment, and security, appealed to the State Government to assist them with the provision of official and residential accommodation, operational vehicles and other logistics to enhance their operations.