The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), has disclosed that Ogun state ranks highest in cases of human trafficking after Edo and Delta states.
The disclosure was made on Friday, when NAPTIP’s Director General, Binta Adamu Bello, led other stakeholders including the members of security agencies such as the police, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) and Non-Governmental Organisations among others in a sensitization walk around the metropolis to mark this year’s World Day Against Trafficking in Persons.
Bello, who was represented by NAPTIP Commander, Ogun State, Bosede Jimoh, called for increased public collaboration in the fight against human traffickers across Ogun state and the country as a whole.
Bello, who revealed the theme of this year’s celebration as “Human Trafficking Is Organized Crime, End The Exploitation”, said that everyone must rise up to support the government to dismantle the network of traffickers and equally hold the perpetrators accountable for their wickedness against humanity.
She revealed that the state Command has handled over 50 cases of human trafficking and secured three convictions against perpetrators within the last two years it began operations in the state.
“The truth is that Ogun is one of the endemic states in terms of human trafficking based on the numbers of cases that we have received since we came on board in the state in August 2023″, Bello said, adding that human trafficking cases handled range from child labour, sextortion and sales of babies among others, with seven pending court cases and other cases under investigation.
“So today, we are telling parents and communities to be careful and observant, they should not fail to report on time cases of suspected human trafficking to NAPTIP”, she urged.
She emphasized that people must be abreast of the sophisticated devises human traffickers employ to perpetrate their devilish works, some of which involve family members, friends, neighbours, and acquaintances, and to be watchful so as not to fall victim. Other devices she said, are peer influence, unemployment, dysfunction in families, the get-rich-quick syndrome and ignorance among others.
Also speaking with journalists during the sensitization walk, Prof Olubunmi Ashimolowo, the Executive Director of Gender Development Initiative, demanded that a lot more needs to be done by every Nigerian to win the war against the human traffickers
Prof Ashimolowo described the human trafficking situation in Ogun as becoming concerning because the state is now among the three leading states in human trafficking in the country calling for more concerted efforts to reverse this horrible trend.
“The perpetrators of human trafficking have gone into primary schools, communities, even higher institutions to perpetrate their illicit activities against humanity. We want everyone to join us in the fight”, she stated, even as she lamented that both children and elders are being kidnapped for organ harvesting, sextortion, drugs and all kinds.
She encouraged the public to call the hotline: 08033469577 for help whenever they have reports to make about human trafficking.
“The situation is pathetic in Ogun state because it is Edo and Delta that are usually at the peak, but currently research has shown that Ogun state is both a destination and the source when we talk of human trafficking that is why we have to do something about it and get this thing stopped. Ogun state must not lead in terms of human trafficking. As we speak, Ogun is among the first three states leading in human trafficking”, she said.
The Chairman of Human Trafficking Taskforce in the state, Kolawole Soremi, also described the human trafficking situation in the state as very concerning but lauded the state government for teaming up with other stakeholders to go after the perpetrators and destroy every effort of the human traffickers across the state.
The Abeokuta sensitisation walk was held in conjunction with Ogun State Taskforce on Human Trafficking, the International Centre for Migration Policy Development as well as NAPTIP, Ogun State Command.
Some of the places touched during the sensitization walk were Kuto, Isabo, Sapon, Itoku and Lafenwa markets.
