Row over arrest of police officer for human trafficking in Lagos

THERE appears to be a cold war between the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons and Nigerian Police Force over the recent arrest of a police officer in Lagos alongside other suspects over a foiled attempt to traffic young Nigerians to Russia.

Operatives of NAPTIP had last Saturday intercepted 10 young Nigerians at Murtala Muhammed
International Airport, Lagos, who were being trafficked to Moscow, Russia under the guise of the World Cup.

Five suspects were arrested including a Police Sergeant and a Quarantine Officer. Those arrested are Esan Matthew (Policeman), Stephen Fayemiwo (Quarantine Officer) Azeez Olowo, Idowu Fashakin and Eni Godwin.

But the Head, Press and Public Relations Unit, Stella Nezan, in a statement on Thursday in Abuja said the anti-trafficking agency was shocked that the spokesperson of Murtala Muhammed
International Airport Police Command, DSP Joseph Alabi came out to exonerate the Police Officer, Mathew Esan.

Alabi had noted that the officer was arrested by “overzealous” NAPTIP operatives.

The NAPTIP spokesperson reacting to the comments said: “The attention of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) has been drawn to the statement by the spokesperson for the Murtala Muhammed International Airport Police Command, DSP Joseph Alabi exonerating the Police Officer, Mathew Esan, who was arrested by the Agency’s Operatives over his involvement in the attempt to traffic 10 young Nigerians to Russia last Saturday.

“The Agency is shocked that the Command’s Public Relations Officer, DSP Alabi, would make such a sweeping statement that the Officer was arrested by “overzealous NAPTIP operatives while carrying out his legitimate duties at the airport terminal”, especially in a case where he knows next to nothing about.

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“NAPTIP expected the Nigerian Police, Murtala Muhammed Airport Command to await the outcome of the ongoing investigation before exonerating the Police Officer.

“We wish to assure the public that the Nigerian Police as an institution is not under investigation by NAPTIP, the only person being investigated is Mathew Esan who is an officer of the Nigerian Police,” she said.

Nezan insisted that the police officer was caught in the act while coordinating the arrangement at the Airport for the Potential Victims of trafficking (PVoTS) to board the Turkish Airline flight.

“NAPTIP insists that Mathew Esan is fully involved in the failed attempt to traffic the young Nigerians to Russia, a trip which would have succeeded save for the timely interception of our operatives.

“Mr Matthew Esan was not the only Policeman on duty on that day and the NAPTIP operatives did not go for them.

“It is also wrong to claim that the officers suddenly descended on him and arrested him. They had monitored his activities on that day and his association with the rescued girls before they went after him.

“We do not know how the Command’s Spokesperson ascertained that the other suspects denied knowing Mathew Esan, and we hope he is not merely relying on hearsay from his colleague as he is not a member of the NAPTIP investigating team.

“We, therefore, appeal to him to exercise restraints at this point and await the outcome of the investigation,” she said.

NAPTIP said its concern was the safety of young Nigerians, and it would continue to collaborate with the Nigerian Police as one of its strong allies in the fight against human trafficking and other vices.

The NAPTIP spokesperson said Nigerian Police is an institution of high repute and it is important that officers do not sacrifice that reputation by trying to defend an officer who may have overstepped his bounds to engage in activities away from his primary job.