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| Jedy-Agba |
The National Agency for the Prohibition of Traffic in Persons
and Other Related Matters, NAPTIP, has carried out a covert operation
evacuating 10 Nigerian girls working as sex slaves in Abidjan, Cote d’ivoire.
The girls who were brought into Abuja in two batches are from
Edo State, Delta, Rivers and Benue States respectively, with Edo State topping
the chart with six girls.
The Executive Secretary of NAPTIP, Mrs. Beatrice Jedy-Agba
disclosed that the operation which was intelligence driven was in collaboration
with the regional bureau office of Interpol in Abidjan and an Abidjan based Non
Governmental Organization, family Essan for Protection and Promotion of Human
Rights, FEPDH.
Mrs. Jedy-Agba who spoke while receiving the girls in NAPTIP
Headquarters , sued for more intelligence sharing; co-operation and
collaboration between West African Law Enforcement Agencies on trafficking in
persons as a panacea to breaking the stranglehold of the criminal networks on
the scourge.
According to her, NAPTIP felt obliged to bring the girls back
home for rehabilitation as Nigerians and also to support further investigation
in the crime.
She lamented that there are many Nigerian girls in bondage in
the booming sex trade in Cote d’ivoire and Burkina Faso and the agency will go
as long as funds permit to return them home to safety and rehabilitation.Mrs.
Jedy-Agba said the task of combating this crime and consequent rehabilitation
of victims cannot be left to NAPTIP alone as the whole of society is needed
much more in tackling this huge responsibility.
The 10 girls are presently undergoing medical screening and
counseling with NAPTIP operatives after which rehabilitation will commence in
earnest.
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