Rate of human trafficking has reduced in Edo, Delta – NAPTIP

Members of NAPTIP and other participants at the workshop.

The Edo Zonal Command of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Traffic in Persons (NAPTIP) has said that the spate of human trafficking in Edo and Delta states has reduced marginally.

Mr Ogunrinu Muyiwa, who represented the Edo Command of NAPTIP, Mrs Ijeoma Uduak, made the disclosure at a human trafficking workshop organised by PHEW Foundation in Warri, Delta State.

The sensitisation was organised to educate motorists and passengers on the danger inherent in trafficking as well as ways to identify culprits.

“The current percentage of human trafficking in 2018 in Edo is 60 while in 2017, it was 65 per cent.

“It is invariably reducing but that does not mean we should fold our hands, we will not rest until it is maximally reduced.

“The feat should not be attributed to NAPTIP alone, but our partners like the NGOs.

“I must also commend the Oba of Benin, he is one of our critical and robust partners in the fight against human trafficking,” Uduak said.

She said that the Zonal agency, which covers both Edo and Delta, would continue to partner NGOs and intensify awareness campaign on the dangers and consequences of human trafficking.

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Uduak advised people, particularly the youth, to avoid greed and be patient and disciplined.

Earlier, the CEO of PHEW Foundation, Mrs Uche Chigbo, said that commercial drivers were also critical stakeholders in the fight against human trafficking.

According to her, commercial drivers were the ones that convey the traffickers to their destinations, unknowingly.

“We are trying to make the drivers advocates of human trafficking.

“We believe that with the partnership with drivers, we will be able to curb human trafficking to a very large extent.

“Most of the human trafficking must have been transported through vehicles.

“The essence of the workshop is to tell them how to identify suspected human traffickers and report same to the NGOs and government for proper actions,” she said.

Mr Perkins Awourude, who represented Mr Francis Ariyo, Chairman, Effurun Motor Park, commended the NGO for the awareness.

“We will spread the message to our drivers so that together we can eradicate the scourge,” he said.

David Olagunju