NIS, NSCDC, NAPTIP Others Collaborate To Tackle Traffickers, Human Smugglers
By Our CorrespondentThe Operatives of the Nigeria Immigration Service, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Nigerian Police, Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria and National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons gathered in Abuja to chart a course for a robust intelligence, networking and synergy for the Identification of suspected Traffickers and Human Smugglers to curb the scourge of human trafficking and smuggling of migrants that is now call Modern Slavery.
Human Trafficking affects the most vulnerable groups women and children, the girl child is at the centre of the scourge, a situation where they are lured and ensnared, forced into servitude, forced labour and sex Trafficking, harvest of human organs and other forms of manipulation and exploitation.
A statement by Nigeria Immigration Service, Public Relations Officer, DCI Sunday James said the combined team of the operatives were drawn from formations where traffickers and human smugglers are likely to use as routes such as the Airports, Seaports, Land Border.
According to the statement the operatives were brought together to reason to proffer solutions and way forward that will strengthen prosecution of identified perpetrators.
” The Action Against Trafficking in Persons and Smuggling of Migrants Project(A-TIPSOM) has continued to build the capacities of law enforcement agencies through collaboration with (FIAPP) Ibero-American Foundation for Administration and public policy, Spanish public foundation, the training is funded by European Union under the A-TIPSOM Project and implemented by FIAPP.”
Participants were drawn from Edo, FCT, Kano, Katsina, Sokoto, Ogun and Lagos.
According to James, the training will improve identification, Investigation and prosecution of suspected human traffickers and Smugglers of Migrants and their networks through synergy among relevant agencies.
The Comptroller General of Nigeria Immigration Service Muhammad Babandede MFR reiterated that synergy among all the relevant agencies is key to combating Trafficking in Persons and Smuggling of Migrants from Source Countries through the transit and to the destination country, a chain that must be broken to stop the ugly trends.
The Comptroller General of Nigeria Immigration Service was ably represented by the Assistant Comptroller General of Immigration incharge of the Migration Directorate ACG Wuraola Adepoju, who also add her voice to the need for synergy among the operatives.
