THE operatives of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking In Persons (NAPTIP) have arrested two staff of the Federal Ministry of Youths and Sports, Abuja, for allegedly sexually defiling a thirteen-year-old girl.
The anti-trafficking agency in a statement on Thursday in Abuja, gave the names of the suspects as 55-year-old Salisu Sabiu and 51-year-old Ibrahim Mansur Yola, both staff of the Ministry.
Head, Press and Public Relations Officer of NAPTIP, Nneka Aniagoh, in the statement said the suspects lived in the same neighbourhood with the victim in Dutse, a suburb in the Federal Capital Territory.
She said they were arrested following a tip-off by a well-meaning Nigerian who learnt of the dastardly act being committed by the men against the underage girl.
She said following their confession and admittance of committing the offence, the suspects would be charged to court and prosecuted under the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act, 2015.
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Reacting to the news of the arrest, the Director-General of NAPTIP, Dame Julie Okah-Donli, condemned the abominable act and lauded the effort of the well-meaning Nigerian who reported the case to NAPTIP.
She added that the Agency would ensure that justice is served through diligent prosecution and sending them to jail.
The NAPTIP Boss also used the opportunity to draw the attention of the public to the whistle-blowing policy of the Agency, which she encouraged members of the public to make use of in reporting suspected cases of human trafficking and exploitation. She further assured the whistle-blowers of their complete anonymity and protection by the Agency.
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