New methods being used to traffic Nigerian women-UK

The British Deputy High Commission, Lagos State, yesterday revealed that it has been discovered that traffickers have evolved new tricks to traffic Nigerian women.

The Commission made this revelation, while handing over three vehicles to the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons and other Related Matters (NAPTIP), Lagos Zone, at Ikeja, in support of the fight against human trafficking.

The Immigration Liaison Manager, Risk and Liaison Overseas Network (RALON), Mr. Liam Harrison and his counterpart   Vanessa Fleming, from the National Crime Agency; said there was need to checkmate trafficking since it was becoming a global menace.

Fleming, who is also the Joint Border Task Force (JBTF) Project leader, noted that trafficking remains static, but methods of movement was becoming dynamic.

 Fleming said: “We’re seeing more women being trafficked across land routes via Libya, across the Mediterranean and into Europe. This obviously brings with it terrible dangers, with a lot of people dying in the process. It’s now a pressing issue that should be tackled both in Europe and Nigeria. I’m delighted to be able to donate these vehicles to assist the JBTF to conduct investigations and help bring victims safely back to their families.”

 While explaining that JBTF was a joint enterprise between NAPTIP and NDLEA, mandated to combat serious and organized crime, which impacts Nigeria’s borders, said that trafficking was a priority for the United Kingdom.

She said: “It is something that the Prime Minister is personally very concerned about. As earlier mentioned, Nigeria is a source country as large number of women are trafficked to the Europe and the United Kingdom. At JBTF, we also build capacity to conduct investigations and bring the people responsible for this terrible crime to justice.”

 Speaking on the trafficking, Harrison said: “We felt that some assistance was required, we acted upon that and took it forward. We are also looking at purchasing computers, photocopiers, stationeries, office appliances and hopefully with the Modern Slavery Unit assistance, we would have the buildings and safe houses rewired and refurnished in the future.”

The NAPTIP Zonal Commander, Mr. Joseph Famakin, receiving the donations, said he was delighted with the donations.

He added: “This gift will assist us in no little way to carry out our mandate. What you have done today is a fulfillment of your promises and also an eye opener to others who may be sitting on the fence, believing that NAPTIP is a federal government agency. It should not be the responsibility of the federal government alone to care for NAPTIP. Other stakeholders should come to our aid.”

Famakin argued that such supports were one of the ways to reduce trafficking.

He said: “We will use these vehicles to effectively reduce the menace of trafficking; such that Lagos State will no longer be a safe haven for traffickers. We are using this opportunity to tell traffickers to stop, relocate or we will send them to prison.”