Human  trafficking: NAPTIP rescues 2 young boys  in A’Ibom 

The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) has rescued two young boys from Akwa Ibom. Nigerian Anchor checks reveal that the boys were trafficked to Taraba for labour exploitation. The Uyo Zonal Commander of NAPTIP, Mr. Emmanuel Awhen, disclosed this in Uyo on Monday. According to Awhen, the agency received a complaint about the disappearance of two boys, 16-year-old Abasifreke Okon and 17-year-old Precious Ene, who live with their parents in Uyo metropolis. Ene was accused of luring Okon away, leading to his mother, Mrs. Grace Ene, being reported to the Paramount Ruler of Uyo. The traditional ruler subsequently handed her over to NAPTIP for investigation. Through inquiries, it was discovered that a man identified as Christian Gombe had traveled to Uyo and persuaded the boys to work for him in Taraba without their parents’ consent. “Upon receiving the complaint, we immediately contacted our NAPTIP office in Taraba and alerted them about the incident,” Awhen said. READ ALSO: Africa at cross roads: power, progress and the AI revolution “The search for the boys began, and Gombe was contacted. Realising that NAPTIP was involved, he volunteered to return the boys immediately. “We received a call from the Paramount Ruler of Uyo about the case, and we sent our officers to bring the woman (Mrs Grace Ene) to our office. “She was detained, and we communicated with our Taraba office. In the process, we obtained the contact details of the man who trafficked the boys. “Our men in Taraba instructed him to take the boys to the NAPTIP office there, and upon hearing this, he immediately complied and returned them to us,” Awhen explained. Narrating their ordeal, Precious Ene said they met Christian Gombe at a BetNaija outlet along Nwaniba Road, where he offered them jobs in Taraba. “On Feb. 12, Gombe returned with tickets for us to travel to Taraba, where he promised we would work for him. “We arrived on Feb. 13, and he provided accommodation for us. We then started selling building materials for him,” Ene recounted. However, he added that they were not paid any money until they were returned to Uyo to reunite with their parents on March 14. READ ALSO: 25-year old man hangs self in Ogun Forest The boys expressed gratitude to NAPTIP for their rescue, stating that they were uncomfortable staying in Taraba. NAPTIP advises to parents Awhen urged parents and guardians to be cautious about individuals offering their children opportunities for a “better life,” warning that they could end up in child labour or prostitution. He also advised traffickers to desist from such acts, emphasising that both the state and country were cracking down on human trafficking. Awhen encouraged victims, parents, and the general public to reach out to NAPTIP for assistance through the following helplines: 08069539747, 08023574406, and 08035961835.

NAPTIP Rescues 13 trafficking victims, seals Abuja hotel

The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) on Tuesday shut down a hotel in the Kwali area of Abuja after uncovering a human trafficking operation.  The agency also rescued 11 underage girls suspected to be victims of sexual exploitation. Officials arrested the hotel owner, while other staff members managed to escape.  The operation took place a month after NAPTIP rescued another group of trafficking victims from a private apartment in Abuja. In a separate incident, NAPTIP intercepted 13 young women at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, as they were about to board a flight to Iraq.  The women, aged between 19 and 39, were reportedly deceived by illegal recruiters who promised them jobs abroad.  The agency received a tip-off about their suspicious movement at the airport and intervened. NAPTIP’s Director General, Binta Bello, expressed concern over the growing number of trafficking cases.  She warned parents to be cautious about job offers that sound too good to be true.  Investigations revealed that the victims were promised $250 monthly wages but were required to surrender a large portion of their salaries to agents in both Nigeria and Iraq.  Many victims in similar situations have ended up being exploited, underpaid, or even harmed by their employers. Bello assured that NAPTIP would continue to track and arrest those behind these illegal activities.  She called for stronger cooperation among security agencies, airlines, and airport officials to prevent more people from falling into trafficking traps.

Beware of German-based Human Trafficking Syndicate

Vice Chancellors of Nigerian Universities, students, guardians and members of the unsuspecting public have been warned to beware of a German-based human trafficking syndicate that is operating under the guise of offering internship opportunities to lure the youth into a human trafficking net in Europe. In a circular, the National Universities Commission (NUC) today, drew the attention of Vice Chancellors to the existence of the syndicate which is based in Germany and specializes in luring unsuspecting students from third world countries to Germany and other European countries under the guise of offering them internship opportunities in industries and allied institutions. In a circular, which was signed by Mr. John Mairafi Ahmadu, a director in the Executive Secretary’s office at the NUC, the existence of the syndicate was busted by a careful investigation by Indonesian Police. It was stated in the circular that the discovery by the Indonesian police was shared with the Office of the Secretary General of the Federation (OSGF) which communicated the development to the NUC with the clear instruction that the development should be brought to the attention of Vice Chancellors of Nigerian universities for escalation to the Nigerian public.

Alleged Misconduct: NAPTIP sacks Deputy Director, 4 officers

NAPTIP LOGO

The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) has dismissed five of its personnel, including a Deputy Director, for alleged misconduct. This is contained in a statement issued by Mr. Vincent Adekoye, a Press Officer of the agency on Wednesday in Abuja. Adekoye said the misconduct ranged from corruption, demanding and receiving bribes from suspects and relatives, and leaking confidential information to suspects. Others are alleged violation of oath of secrecy; stealing and alteration of official records and absent from duty without Official leave. He said that these offence are all contrary to provisions of the Public Service Rules and other extant laws and regulations. He said that two other officers were demoted by two ranks for soliciting for bribe from a suspect of human trafficking, while one officer was demoted by one rank for negligence of duty. He said that the disciplinary actions followed the approval of the Governing Board of the agency at its meeting on May 25. Adekoye said that at the meeting, the board considered and ratified the decision of the agency’s Senior Staff Committee (SSC) which earlier sat on the disciplinary matters in accordance with the Public Service Rules and other extant laws and regulations.

May 27: Children deserve the best education, others – NAPTIP

CHILDRENS DAY

The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) says that every child in the country deserved to get better of education. The Director General (DG) of the Agency, Mrs Fatima Waziri-Azi, made the remarks during activities to commemorate the 2023 Children’s Day celebration in Abakaliki. The day is celebrated every May 27 annually, to improve on children’s welfare. The theme for the celebration is “Investing in our future means investing in our children”. Waziri-Azi, who was represented by Mrs Bertha Offor, the Head, NAPTIP, Ebonyi Liason Office, maintained that education was the right of every children and the responsibility of parents and government to provide . The Director General stated that the event was to create the needed awareness on children on issues of human trafficking and violence against persons. She added that the purpose was to expose and enlightened children on the agency’s mandate and activities in the state. “You are our better tomorrow. It is the responsibility of parents and government to provide quality education for children in the urban and rural areas. The Attorney General, Ministry of Justice in the state, Mr Cletus Ofoke, commended the agency for the enlightenment to enrich children’s knowledge against trafficking. Ofoke, representated by Mrs Faithvin Nwanchor, Coordinator, Gender-Based Violence Taskforce in the state, said that the event would expose children more on their rights. “As we mark the children’s day celebration with you, we want to enlighten you more on your rights. “We also want you to learn and identify the ills perpetrators commit against children,” Ofoke said. The DG, National Human Rights Commission, Mr Anthony Ojukwu, said the celebration was also a way to brighten up children and expand their knowledge as well. Ojukwu, represented by Mr Ejimnkeonye Oduenyi, Assistant Chief Legal Officer of the commission, said it was an opportunity to highlight any plights young Nigerians face. Declan Nwaji and Matter Abah, students from Government Technical College and Presco Secondary Schools, promised to instill same on fellow students and peer groups to forestall possible attacks on children. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the event featured pupils and students from primary and secondary schools in the state