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Tag: naptip

  • FG adopts whistleblowing policy to tackle human trafficking

    The Federal Government has approved a whistleblowing policy in the fight against human trafficking.

    The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami, conveyed the approval to the Director General of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NATIP), Julie Okah-Donli.

    The Head, Press and Public Relations of the agency, Josiah Emerole, who disclosed this yesterday in Abuja, said the approval followed a request by the DG to the AGF.

    He said whistleblowing had become necessary to encourage people to provide useful information to NAPIT without fear of the consequence. Emerole explained that whistleblowing had been on top of Okah-Donli’s programme since she assumed office in April 2017.

    According to him, the policy was based on the knowledge that human trafficking had not been effectively tackled because those who have information about it never report to NAPTIP and other relevant agencies.

    A director in the solicitors department, Z. S. Adeyanju, conveyed the approval on behalf of the attorney general and minister of justice.

    Emerole stressed that with the approval, the public was free to give useful information on human trafficking and the assets of traffickers for possible confiscation and legal action.

    The NATIP DG expressed the hope that informants would be free to give verifiable information to the agency, adding that the extant laws against human trafficking would protect them.

    While encouraging members of the public to provide useful information, she said the agency was working out reward modalities for informants.

  • NAPTIP arrests another “notorious trafficker” in Edo

    The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) said it has arrested a 45-year-old woman, Rhoda Omorogie, alias Mama Bobo, for her alleged involvement in the trafficking of young girls from Benin to Europe.

    The NAPTIP Head of Press and Public Relations, Mr Josiah Emerole,
    said in a statement on Wednesday in Abuja that the operatives of the agency in Benin Zonal Command arrested the suspect in an early morning operation on Tuesday.

    Emerole explained that Omorogie, a nurse by profession and an indigene of Oredo Local Government Area of Edo, was nabbed by the operatives at about 5 a.m at her residence located at No. 65 Osayande St. off Upper Sakponda Road, Benin City.

    He said that the suspected trafficker had been in hiding since June 16 following the arrest of one of her gang members, Monday Ugbo, by NAPTIP operatives and rescue of three victims.

    According to him, the “notorious trafficker’’ is presently in NAPTIP’s custody for interrogation.

    The spokesperson stated that preliminary reports showed that Omorogie has over the years been involved in the recruitment of young women from Benin to other places including Europe.

    He said the report also revealed that she was connected to the recruitment of the three victims that were rescued in Benin at the weekend.

    Emerole quoted the Director-General of NAPTIP, Mrs Julie Oka-Donli, saying that it is disheartening to see women involved in the “disgusting trade of human beings’’.

    She however stressed the need for people to be more careful while dealing with traffickers.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recall Ugbo was nabbed by NAPTIP operatives at the weekend and rescued three victims from his residence located at number 72 Osayande St., Upper Sakponba Road, Benin City, Edo.

    Ugbo was arrested in the process of receiving a registration fee of N50,000 he had demanded from a prospective victim and preparing to take the victims to a River for oath taking.