Charges Nigerians to expose them

National Agency for Prohibition of Traffick in Persons (NAPTIP) has urged Nigerians to assist the agency with useful information that could lead to the arrest human trafficking agents.

On Tuesday, during the 2019 world day against human trafficking, the Commandant of NAPTIP in the state, Mr Dan Atokolo urged volunteers and victims to expose human traffickers declaring them as joy killers.

The occasion had in attendance members of Journalists International Forum For Migration (JIFORM) led by its president, Ajibola Abayomi who commended the agency for its pro-activeness.

Atokolo noted that thousands of youths lured into several countries through deceits were regretting their actions because their expectations were not met having found out that the realities in those nations were opposite of their expectations.

According him, the event was organised to raise the awareness among Nigerians so that other innocents citizens would not fall victims of human trafficking.

He said the agency was ready to improve the lives of returnees and help them to rediscover their talents through several rehabilitation schemes.

Atokolo said the agency was ready to consolidate on its advocacies at schools, markets, local governments and rural communities to frustrate those profiting from luring the youths abroad to prostitution and other forms of illicit trades.

“Since 2013, NAPTIP had secure 403 convictions at the court against human traffickers. In last one year, out of the 85 convictions recorded, 15 of them were from Lagos State. I must add that we were able to bring back a lady trafficked to Oman recently based on tips from the relatives of the victim. We did the same in Libya and Egypt. All these are credits to the Director General of NAPTIP” he said.

Agencies that participated in the event included Nigeria Immigration Service, Nigerian Ban Association, Ikeja branch, Catholic Reverend Sisters, New Era Odua Peoples Congress and others.