The Chairman, Nigerian Drug Law and Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Col. Muhammad Abdallah has said that 77,558 persons were arrested for drug trafficking between 2016 and 2015.
The Chairman who was represented by Mr. Kayode Adeniyi said this at a one day seminar hosted by Crime reporters at Renaissance Marriot Hotel to mark the International Day against Drug and Human Trafficking.
Mr. Adeniyi said that the business of drug trafficking was usually motivated by the profit which was tagged the most lucrative generating about $320billion dollars per annum.
“The NDLEA first discovered a methamphetamine laboratory at Maza-Maza area of Lagos in 2011 and till date, 12 other laboratories were discovered in Lagos, Anambra and Delta State. Of the arrested 77,558 drug traffickers, 72,735 are male while 4,823 are female. So you can see that the business of drug trafficking does not have to do with just the male gender.
“It is very painful that Nigeria has been implicated as a source, transit and destination point for drugs and human trafficking”, he said.
Adeniyi further called for the collaboration of all security agencies to share information on how to effectively check the menace of drug trafficking.
He also said that public enlightenment should be embarked upon so that the people can be aware of the evil of drug and human trafficking.
The Chairman of the Ocassion, Mr. Wale Olaoye, Chief Executive Officer, (CEO), Halogen Security also added that human trafficking in the next few years would surpass illegal sale of arm which should be taken important.
“We are looking to change the narrative as Nigeria tops other countries in production and seizure of hard drugs. Nigeria also has the highest number of persons serving jail terms for drug offenses in the world which should be of great concern to us. The laws governing human and drug trafficking also need to be made stiffer as fines no longer make the laws effective enough to check the menace. We need to look deeper on how all security agencies can work together on information”, he said.
Mr. Olaoye added that the border control system also needed to be made more effective and robust to counter issues of trafficking.
The Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Fatai Owoseni who was represented by ACP Akinbayo Olasuji said that a department of the Nigeria Police at Alagbon often takes up cases of child abandonment and illegal adoption.
He added that adoption system in the country was a flop which also needed to be checked.
In his words, “we need an attitude of change for things to move on in this country”.
A representative of the National Agency for Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) Director General, Mrs. Kehinde Akomolafe said that human trafficking was a modern day slavery which needed to be checked.
According to her, “It is a crime that cannot be done by just a person but syndicates also involved on money laundering and drug trafficking. Sometimes, the victims see the traffickers as their benefactor which is a major challenge and NAPTIP has set up nine zonal offices across the six Geo-political zones to check the menace. Human trafficking is an evil that can be brought to end through collaboration being a source, transit and destination country”.
She added that NAPTIP had commenced sensitization as ignorance was often seen as the reasons and excuse.
According to her, the law governing human trafficking had been repealed in 2015 and included stiffer punishments adding that no options of fine and proceeds of trafficking go into victims’ trust fund.
The Assistant Controller General, Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Mr. Isyaku Hamad who was represented by Mrs. Odutola Fashakin reaffirmed the NIS unalloyed support to fight human trafficking.
“We organize sensitization programs for our officers as they are trained to reject requests for passports by suspected traffickers. Also surveillance had increased at our 774 offices and we are collaborating with other security agencies and signed MOU with some countries to check the menace of human trafficking”, he said.
Barrister Segun Adegoke, a Passport Controller (PCO), Ikoyi Passport Office, who was a guest lecturer at the event, said that the Nigeria Immigration was implementing effective policy measures to check the control of person in out of the country.
“Also for effective border management, surveillance had increased and a new border patrol has been established to partner with security agencies to check human trafficking. Officers are also trained to check irregular migrants as we also sometimes inspect hotels and we have deportee’s’ bio data”, he said.
He added that parents and guardians should also play important roles in the upbringing of their children.
ACP Frank Mba, also a guest lecturer at the event said that the baby factory was fast becoming another phase of human trafficking.
“Baby factory as a form of human trafficking is thriving locally and internationally and it is a major concern. This is usually as a result of stigmatization of teenage and out of wedlock pregnancy in the society. We need to check the demand and supply chain and sensitize people that teenage pregnancy is not a crime against humanity. The government should also subsidize fertility treatment and streamline adoption in the country”, he said.
Mba added that it was everyone’s responsibility to work collaboratively towards ensuring drug and human trafficking free society.
Mrs. Tanwa Ashiru, CEO, Bulwark Intelligence, also a guest lecturer said that it was important people learnt the story of human and drug trafficking before changing the narrative.
“We often celebrate bad things and all Nigerians need to understand their level of involvement. We need to focus on changing the way we think about situation and the Government should walk the talk as our little effort can at least put Nigerians in their bright frame of mind.” she said.
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