NAPTIP rescues 529 Ogun indigenes from traffickers

The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) says it has rescued 529 indigenes of Ogun State between 2004 to 2020.

It also inaugurated the Ogun Task Force on Human Trafficking to stem the tide of human trafficking and irregular migration in the state and the country.

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The task force is chaired by the Ogun State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Barrister Gbolahan Adeniran.

In her address at the inauguration ceremony in Abeokuta on Friday, the Director General of NAPTIP, Mrs Dame Okah -Donli, said human trafficking represented a clear and present danger to human and national security which must be addressed boldly and frontally.

Okah -Donli explained that the state task force on human trafficking had a pivotal role to play in ensuring adequate sensitisation at the grassroots and among vulnerable groups on dangers associated with human trafficking.

She added that the task force also has a role to play in providing services and support to victims who had been rescued and returned as well as information sharing with law enforcement agencies.

“The challenges ahead of us are quite enormous and new initiatives must be developed to ensure adequate resources for the rehabilitation of returnee victims of human trafficking and irregular migration to mitigate the phenomenon of retrafficking.

“From 2004 to July 2020, a total of 529 indigenes of Ogun State have been rescued by NAPTIP, consisting of 432 females and 97 males, mostly from Abeokuta North, Abeokuta South, Ipokia, Imeko Afon, Ado Odo Ota and Ogun waterside local government areas.

“Between March and August 2020, NAPTIP repatriated 355 young women from domestic and sexual servitude in Lebanon, out of whom, 15 were from Ogun state.

“NAPTIP is collaborating with state governments set up task forces against human trafficking under the supervision of the state governors in order to consolidate on the efforts of the agency and other stakeholders,” she said.

Inaugurating the 42-man task force, Governor of the state, Dapo Abiodun, said that government must ensure adequate security of lives and property for any nation to experience development.

Abiodun, represented by the Deputy Governor, Noimot Salako – Oyedele, explained that human trafficking remained a great violation of human rights, saying government must expedite action to stop the menace in the society.