Niger Delta
NAPTIP/ICMPD Renew Campaign Against Human Trafficking In Delta
The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) and the International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD) on Tuesday in Asaba renewed campaign strategy against human trafficking in Delta State.
Hajia Binta Adamu-Bello, Director-General, NAPTIP, formally flagged off a two-day Awareness and Capacity Raising Workshop for School Principals, Vanguard Coordinators and Education Administrators.
According to her, the workshop was to equip participants on the use of the Tools for the implementation of TIPVAP Vanguards Under the School Anti-Trafficking Education and Advocacy Project (STEAP).
The Tide’s source reports that the programme was organised by NAPTIP in collaboration with ICMPD implementing STEAP in Delta State.
The project is being funded by the Government of the Netherlands.
Adamu-Bello, represented by Mr. Josiah Emerole, Director of Intelligence of Research and Programme Development Department, NAPTIP, said the workshop was to raise the participants’ awareness on issues of human trafficking and how to deal with it.
She said the fight against human trafficking should be a collective one and not to be left for government agencies alone.
She said 50 secondary schools have been selected in Delta, and that each school would have NAPTIP Students Vanguards to continue with the sensitisation against human trafficking in the state.
According to her, the workshop would help build the stakeholders’ capacity to coordinate the vanguards in their schools.
The NAPTIP boss further said the target is to catch the children young, to educate and equip them with requisite knowledge to create awareness among the students and their families to enable them identify the red flags of trafficking.
“As principals and Vanguard coordinators, you owe the children responsibility to save them from becoming victims of the traffickers.
“Also, as principals and teachers, what we are doing here toady is also for you, you can be trafficked as a teacher, principal or parent by the traffickers for forced labour, sex or for organ harvesting.
“A few years ago, NAPTIP with ICMPD infused trafficking in persons issues in the curriculum of basic and secondary school education in Nigeria.
“Now to further that, we began to set up clubs in schools called Vanguards in secondary schools and Brigades in Primary schools”, she stated.
She, however, disclosed that the agency has so far rescued and reintegrated into the society about 26,000 victims while 700 persons have been convicted by the agency.
Also, Mrs. Rhoda Johnson, Project Manager, International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD)- STEAP project, said the project’s target was to ensure children are safe and less vulnerable in the society.
She noted that the training was aimed at sustaining awareness, strengthening collaboration and understanding of issues of trafficking and how to report trafficking in persons.
”The STEAP project have other components, but what we are doing now is being implemented by NAPTIP which is to inaugurate vanguards in 50 schools in Delta State and other four states where we are implementing the project.
“The aim of the STEAP project is to strengthen awareness, enhance stakeholders capacity and collaboration with Civil Society Organisations to prevent trafficking among school age children.
”The STEAP project is for four years. We started it in 2024 and it will end in 2027. We are collaborating with government and it is part of the sustainability plan, so that when the project is ended as per funding by the government of the Netherlands, the State Government could carry on.
“We also expect the government to replicate the school vanguards in other schools and communities.
“That is why we are working with NAPTIP which is saddled with the responsibility of inaugurating vanguards and it has been doing well and NAPTIP will do more now with funding”, Johnson said.
In a remark, the State Attorney–General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Ohwovoriole Ekemejero, represented by Mrs. Ijoma Nwanze, Secretary, State Taskforce Against Human Trafficking, lauded NAPTIP and ICMPD for the sustained fight against human trafficking in the state.
Also, the State Commissioner for Secondary Education, Mrs. Rose Ezewu, represented by Mr. Macleans Eze, Desk Officer, State Task Force Against Human Trafficking and Irregular Migrations, said the workshop was apt.
“This workshop represents a crucial step in equipping our school principals, vanguard coordinators and school administrators with the knowledge and tools necessary to protect our children from exploitation and abuse.
In a lecture titled, ”Understanding Human Trafficking”, the Director, Public Enlightenment, NAPTIP, Kehinde Akomolafe, said traffickers deploy deception, isolation, debt bondage, fetish oaths to control their victims.
According to her, the traffickers are members of the family, friends and associate who are driven by inordinate ambition to make money.
The source reports that about a hundred participants have so far been engaged to benefit from the workshop aimed at stemming the tide against human trafficking in Delta State.
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The Commissioner of Police in Edo State, Mr. Monday Agbonika, has vowed to hunt down and bring to justice those behind the killing of eight NSCDC operatives in the State.
Agbonika gave the assurance on Tuesday during an on-the-spot assessment of the attack scene, which also involved the abduction of a Chinese national.
Describing the incident as “a dastardly act that will not go unpunished”, the Commissioner expressed condolences to the Edo State Command of the NSCDC.
He paid tribute to the fallen operatives, describing them as “gallant personnel who paid the ultimate price in the line of duty.”
“We stand in solidarity with the NSCDC in this grief. Their sacrifice will not be in vain, and Edo people should expect justice”, Agbonika said.
In a separate meeting with Chinese community members at BUA Cement, Okpella, the police chief assured that efforts were ongoing to rescue the abducted expatriate alive.
“Our men are on the ground, and operations have been intensified. We are determined to rescue the kidnapped victim and prevent further incidents in the area”, he said.
Agbonika appealed for calm among residents, urging cooperation through timely and credible intelligence to aid ongoing security operations.
“Security is a collective responsibility. We call on residents to support us with information. Together, we will defeat criminals threatening Edo’s peace”, he added.
He reaffirmed the command’s commitment to protecting lives and properties, stressing that it would not relent until the attackers were arrested and justice delivered.
The Tide’s source reports that the Okpella attack occurred on Friday.
The Police Command in Delta State has arrested a suspected female illicit drugs dealer in Ughelli North Local Government Area of the state.
The command’s Spokesman, SP Bright Edafe, disclosed this in a statement made available to newsmen in Warri on Wednesday.
Edafe said the suspect was nabbed alongside her three apprentices on August 29 by the police operatives attached to the Ughelli Area Command.
He said the operatives carried out the raid following credible information on the activities of some individuals that indulged in the sale of illicit drugs within Afisere/Ughelli town.
“The operatives trailed and arrested a drug baron who operates a chemist store in Afisere Community alongside three of her apprentices.
“The suspect led the operatives to her house at Afisere and a search warrant was executed.
“Exhibits recovered from the suspects included: 355 bottles of CSC codeine, 57 rolls of 50MG tramadol capsules, 335 rolls of 100mg tramadol capsules.
“Others were: 33 rolls of 200mg super royal, seven backwoods, 540 sachets of swinol capsules and 16 cups of Canadian liquid cannabis”, he said.
The police spokesman said investigation further revealed that the suspect was a major dealer in illicit drugs in Ughelli and its environs.
Edafe added that investigation in the matter was ongoing.
The Cross River State House of Assembly has extended the suspension of the Bekwarra Council Chairman, Ms. Theresa Ushie, to 90 days.
Speaker of the Assembly, Mr. Elvert Ayambem, made the remark on Wednesday during plenary.
The Tide’s source recalls that Ushie was suspended on June 10 for three months on allegations of corruption, misconduct and abuse of power.
The suspension followed a petition from the Bekwarra Local Government Legislative Council, signed by eight of its members, who also attempted to impeach her.
Ayambem explained that the extension was to allow the House Committee on Judiciary, Public Service Matters, Public Petitions and Conflict Resolution more time to investigate the petition written against the chairman by the Bekwarra Legislature.
The House had earlier deliberated on a motion calling for the extension of the office of the LGA Acting Chairman, Mr. Egbung Obama, before agreeing to extend Ushie’s suspension.
In his remarks, Chairman of the Investigative Committee and member, representing Abi State Constituency, Mr. Davies Etta, said the committee needed more time to carry out a thorough investigation.
Ushie was elected as Bekwarra Local Government Council Chairman and sworn-in in November 2024.