We won’t tolerant sexual abuse of girls, women in IDP camps, says NAPTIP DG

Okah-Donli

The Director-General of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons, Dame Julie Okah- Donli, yesterday, described any abuse on Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) and other less privileged  persons in the society as a crime that should not be swept under carpet, irrespective of the status of the offender and circumstances.

Okah-Donli warned that the Agency would no longer tolerate any abuse of children and women in any of the Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camp in any part of the country under any situation.

She said: “NAPTIP has reactivated its working relationship and collaboration with divers partners and other sister security Agencies as well as several caregivers working at the various IDP camps with a view to unmask any act of abuse within those locations.”

OKah-Donli gave the warning during a visit to the new Kushingoro Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camp located in Abuja.

The DG was at the camp to celebrate the 2018 children’s day as well as the Democracy Day with the victims who were mostly women and children.

The NAPTIP boss stated that the present security challenges that had displaced thousands of persons across the Northern parts of the country didn’t mean that those affected by the insurgency had lost their rights.

She said: “I want all Nigerians to know that these sets of people, who are victims of insurgency and other security challenges, have their rights intact as enshrined in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. They should be respected and accorded the desired rights and privileges like other citizens of the country.

“NAPTIP will not tolerate any act that constitutes any form of abuse in any of the camps. Their present predicament is nothing but just a bend in their journey of life. It is not the end of their life. Let us join hands to restore hope to them, let us join hands to put them back on the track so that they can contribute their own quota to the development of the nation. As a focal Agency that is committed to the protection of Nigerians, NAPTIP has strengthened its partnership and working relationship with other sister Security Agencies working inside the various camps as well as Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) and other relevant partners with a view to nipping any act of abuse in any of the camps in the bud.”

She called on the IDPs to avail themselves of the opportunity of staying at the camp to develop themselves in skill acquisition in order to be self-reliance.

Speaking on behalf of the IDPs, spokesman of the victims, Mr. Philemon Emmanuel from Borno State thanked the NAPTIP Director – General for visiting them as well as donating large quantity of essential consumable to them saying that they will never forget the gesture.

He called on other government Agencies and corporate bodies to emulate the gesture.

Highpoint of the visit was the presentation of basic items to the victims.

Similarly, the NAPTIP DG was at the Agency’s shelter where she hosted victims of human trafficking and child abuse to a party to mark the Children and Democracy Day. The party was spiced up with a beautiful rendition of songs as well as drama presentation by the children.