The
Director-General of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking In
Persons (NAPTIP), Dame Julie Okah-Donli, has called for the prosecution of both
Nigerians and the citizens of foreign countries involved in human trafficking.
The DG made
this call during a meeting with a delegation from the French Embassy in Abuja,
and the Central pour la Répression de la Traite des Êtres Humains (OCRTEH),
France.
The delegation which comprised of Le Mer Gérard, from the French Embassy,
Abuja, Cotelle Patrick, and Beavgendre Lionel from OCRTEH, which is the branch
of the French Judicial Police that investigates and prosecutes cases of human
trafficking for sexual exploitation, was at NAPTIP for a five-day Exchange
programme between NAPTIP and OCRTEH.
Dame Julie
Okah-Donli decried the situation whereby a human trafficking syndicate or network
is dismantled in European countries, and only Nigerians are prosecuted.
She
expressed her displeasure at such, believing that there are citizens of those
countries working with or enabling the Nigerians to carry out such criminal
activities and demanded that they should be brought to book, as well.
Earlier in
their remarks, Mr. Cotelle Patrick expressed their satisfaction with the
efforts of NAPTIP in combating human trafficking which necessitated their
willingness to exchange ideas and experiences with the Nigerian Agency. He also
pledged the support of OCRTEH to NAPTIP in the fight against human trafficking
for sexual exploitation.
The NAPTIP
boss lauded the initiative of the French government at taking care of the
Nigerian victims of human trafficking through the various Non-Governmental
Organisations and expressed her optimism that “the exchange programme will lead
to stronger collaborations, joint investigations and operations, as well as
mutual legal assistance which will be of immense benefit to both organisations
and, by extension, the countries”. She further extended the hand of partnership
to other foreign organisations and countries as she insists that “human
trafficking is a global problem, which threatens the peace and security of the
nations, and which we must come together to tackle”.
Nneka I. Aniagoh
Press and Public Relations Unit
January 22nd,2019.
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