…Honours Agege Council boss for exemplary leadership
…Inaugurates Task Force on Human Trafficking
The Lagos command of the National Agency for Prevention of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), has secured the safe return of another victim of trafficking for labour exploitation from Oman bringing the number to three in the space of three months.
The victim, over 40 year old female was trafficked to Oman by two suspects with the promise of securing lucrative domestic servant job for her. The victim got to Oman, worked exhaustively day and night until she injured her back and could not cope with the stress of the work anymore. It was at this point she requested to be brought back but her exploiters insisted she must continue to work to complete a purported 2years contract.
Following a distress call to her relatives who reported to NAPTIP for further action, the Lagos command immediately swung into action, arresting one of the traffickers in Ibadan, Oyo State who is currently in custody.
Following a directive from the command, the trafficker in custody facilitated the safe and quick return of the victim on Friday. She was received by NAPTIP operatives and will be reunited with her family.
The Lagos Zonal Commander of NAPTIP, Daniel Atokolo in his reaction to the success of the operation reiterated the Zero tolerance for human traffickers by the Director General of NAPTIP, Dame Julie Okah Donli.
He stressed that the Director General has always maintained that there is no hiding place for traffickers in Nigeria and that offenders must be brought to book. He equally commended the untiring efforts of the officers and men of the Lagos command for ensuring the safety of members of the public within the zonal command against trafficking.
Meanwhile, the Director General of NAPTIP, Dame Julie Okah-Donli has given an award of Excellence and Exemplary Leadership to the Executive Chairman of Agege Local Government Area, Lagos State, Alhaji Ganiyu Kola Egunjobi.
Donli also inaugurated Agege Local Government Task Force on Human Trafficking.
The Director General while presenting the award to the Local Government Chairman stated that it was in recognition of his exemplary leadership as relates to the fight against Human Trafficking which among others includes his monthly empowerment programme to the vulnerable persons.
Further, she stated that the award was not only aimed at rewarding excellence but equally meant to spur him to do more and for others in such position to emulate.
Dame Julie Okah-Donli while inaugurating the Agege Local Government Task Force on Human Trafficking – the first ever by the Agency, charged the members to show total commitment in the task ahead of them which includes awareness creation on the dangers of human trafficking, empowerment of victims of Human Trafficking among others.
Members of the Task Force were drawn from the Nigeria Police Force, Nigeria Immigration Service, relevant departments of the Agege Local Government Council, traditional institution, youths, religious groups, NGOs among others, to be chaired by the Local Government Chairman and co-chaired by the NAPTIP Lagos Commander, Daniel Atokolo.
The ceremony which was held last Wednesday at Dami Event Center, 50 Lagos Street, Off Akilo Road, Ogba-Agege, Lagos also provided an opportunity for awareness creation on the dangers of Human Trafficking.
This was achieved through an address and remarks by the Director General; remarks by the NAPTIP Director Intelligence, Research and Programme Development Department, Godwin Mora; brief remarks/coordination of inauguration the Task Force by the NAPTIP Lagos Commander; acceptance speech of the award by the Agege Local Government Chairman and distribution of over 400 NAPTIP Fact sheet and 400 Red cards.
The Agege Local Government also used the opportunity to empower twenty five (25) persons in line with its routine monthly empowerment scheme.
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