NAPTIP DG, Board vow to tackle illegal labour recruiters to stem human trafficking

The fight against massive exploitation of Nigerians by traffickers who have continued to traffic them to some destination Countries most especially Middle East and Arabian countries has received a major boost as the newly inaugurated Board of the Agency has vowed to tackle illegal recruitment of unsuspecting Nigerians for sexual and labour exploitation.

The Board promised to interface with the leadership of the recruitment Agencies in Nigeria, officials of the Federal Ministry of Labour and other relevant Agencies, and the management of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) with a view to curtailing the disturbing phenomenon that has brought pains and agonies to many trafficked victims.

This was part of the resolutions of the first inaugural meeting of the Board held at the headquarters of the Agency presided over by the Chairman, Mr. Abubakar Usman Gotomo.

It would be recalled that the then Honourable Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, had on Tuesday 28^th May, 2019, inaugurated Board of Agencies under the Ministry in line with the laid down procedures among which is NAPTIP Board.

Speaking after the presentation by the Director General, Dame Julie Okah – Donli, the Board Chairman, Mr. Gotomo, expressed sadness over the activities of the self - acclaimed licensed recruitment Agencies who have continued to ship innocent Nigerians to some of the destination Countries for exploitative purposes.

“I want to express the sadness of the entire Board over this dangerous and disturbing development where our promising youths both boys and girls are being massively recruited for exploitative purposes. Reports emanating from these destination countries are heartbreaking and we cannot fold our hands while our children are daily being destroyed.

“The activities of these Labour Agencies as pointed out by the Director General is inimical to development of the nation, it is a setback to the fight against human trafficking and it just has to stop” the Board Chairman said.

The chairman commended the NAPTIP Director General for the modest achievements of the Agency since she resumed especially in the areas of prosecution, awareness creation and advocacy among stakeholders globally.

Earlier in her presentation, the Director General of NAPTIP, Dame Julie Okah – Donli, had presented an overview of the activities of the Agency with emphasis on major challenges facing the Agency.

She told the Board that the activities of some of the Labour recruitment Agencies are frustrating the fight against human trafficking in the country.

“I want to tell the entire Board members and Nigeria that the activities of some of these labour recruiters are frustrating the Federal Government’s fight against exploitation of our citizens. On daily basis, the Agency is being inundated with series of calls from distressed Nigerians in destination Countries calling for help. They are being mindlessly exploited, harassed and even some of them killed by their so-called masters.

“They refer to them as their slaves and as such they could do anything to them without any mercy.

“Just some hours ago, there is a new advert on the various social media platforms calling on Nigerians to apply for driving jobs in one of the Middle East countries. The said advert promised a lot unrealistic free offers that are totally false. This is another dimension in the exploitative trend that is designed to massively traffic the applicants for sexual exploitation, labour exploitation and even organ harvesting purposes.

“We have the responsibility to stop this development. These Agencies that are touting unverified recruitment license must be called to order”, the NAPTIP boss said.

The Board jointly resolved to support all activities of the Agency.

The maiden meeting was attended by all members of the Board.