NAPTIP orders nationwide crackdown on child traffickers

Director-General, National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons, Fatima Waziri-Azi, has directed all NAPTIP zonal and state commanders to commence surveillance operations within their areas in the interest of the public. She gave the directive in a statement on Monday by Mrs Stella Nezan, Head, Public Relations Unit. “We have to ensure that […]

Director-General, National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons, Fatima Waziri-Azi, has directed all NAPTIP zonal and state commanders to commence surveillance operations within their areas in the interest of the public.

She gave the directive in a statement on Monday by Mrs Stella Nezan, Head, Public Relations Unit.

“We have to ensure that child trafficking is completely tackled, all those involved in buying and selling of human beings should be apprehended and prosecuted,” she said.

According to her, child trafficking is an inhuman activity that should not be allowed in society.

“Shutdown those places they call baby factories. Apprehend and prosecute those who own them, it is illegal and barbaric,” she said.

Waziri-Azi said that NAPTIP was committed to strengthening partnerships with other law enforcement agencies to ensure a successful campaign against child trafficking.

She said, “The spate of child trafficking, kidnaping and stealing of children is worrisome, we can’t fold our arms and watch.

“The law empowers the agency to deal with all cases of human trafficking, buying and selling of human beings as well as cruelty against children.

“I know that we have been quite proactive in delivering on our mandate, we have recorded tremendous breakthroughs, we need to be more resilient.

”As an agency, we have rescued many children from their abductors and reunited then with their families, we need to do more.” 

She urged members of the public to support the agency with intelligence information to enable it track down trafficking offenders.

She noted that those involved in the illegal activity are known to members of the public, saying, “they can be apprehended if the right information is provided.

“Let’s be more vigilant, let’s endeavour to report suspicious movements within our environments, together we shall win the battle”. (NAN)