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NAPTIP, Shippers’ Council Collaborate to Arrest Human Trafficking on Waterways

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NAPTIP, Shippers’ Council Collaborate to Arrest Human Trafficking on Waterways

By: Michael Mike

The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) and Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) are to commence a collaborative move aimed at combating human trafficking through Nigeria’s waterways and coastal areas

The Management of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) on Tuesday promised robust cooperation, effective collaboration, and sustained synergy with NAPTIP.

The promise was made during a courtesy visit of the Director General of NAPTIP, Binta Bello, to the Executive Secretary and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council, Dr. Akutah Ukeyima, at the Council’s office in Abuja.

The visit was part of the strategic engagement of the Director General of NAPTIP with critical Agencies of Government and partners across the Country aimed at enhancing inter-agency collaboration in the fight against human trafficking in Nigeria.

Speaking during the visit, the NAPTIP boss, who described the Nigerian Shippers’ Council as a critical partners, disclosed that due to the intense operation heat on traffickers on the land borders by operatives of NAPTIP, some of the traffickers have now resorted to using the waterways to traffic their victims.

She said, “ As a maritime regulatory body, the NSC oversees critical gateways to the nation’s trade and transportation systems, gateways that are unfortunately also exploited by traffickers to move victims clandestinely via vessels and other maritime routes.

“The shipping, ports, and logistics sectors can play a pivotal role in early detection, prevention, and reporting of trafficking activities, making collaboration between NAPTIP and NSC not only strategic but essential.

“NAPTIP is proposing to deepen engagement with the maritime sector in the fight against human trafficking, especially in sensitisation for identification of potential trafficking cases along the waterways and timely reporting to relevant authorities.

“We propose a collaboration targeting port workers, shipping agents, freight forwarders, crew members, and other maritime stakeholders to identify and report suspected trafficking activities using NSC’s outreach structures, the Nigerian Port Process Manual (NPPM) platforms, and Port Standing Task Team (PSTT) channels to integrate anti-trafficking awareness.

“ Bearing in mind that the fight against human trafficking requires a united, multi-sectoral approach, and that the maritime sector under the regulatory leadership of NSC is a critical partner in closing the trafficking supply chain, NAPTIP expresses its readiness to formalise collaboration through an MoU or agreed action plan for sustained engagement.

“NAPTIP and NSC can strengthen Nigeria’s maritime security, while protecting vulnerable persons from exploitation”, the NAPTIP DG stated.

In his response, the ES/CEO of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council, described human trafficking as one of the most heinous transnational organized crimes that requires the collective effort of all stakeholders and partners to combat.

According to him, the evolving nature of the crime, coupled with the various dimensions and scope, has made it more dangerous, with attendant consequences on innocent victims.

While acknowledging the achievements of the Agency under the watch of the Director General, Binta Adamu Bello, the NSC Boss said, “ It is very important that we partner together and fight this menace. This is a kind of crime that does not give a good image to the Country abroad. It leads to other criminal activities”.

“The maritime sector is not be left alone in this fight to combathuman trafficking in Nigeria. You talked about a stowaway; this is a veritable means of transporting victims to other countries”, he disclosed.

Also speaking, the Board member, MMS, Women of Fortune, Hall of Fame Initiative (WoFHoF), Hajia Lami Tumaka, expressed the readiness of the organization to partner with NAPTIP to combat human trafficking in the Country.

The high point of the visit was the setting up of an interim inter–agency committee to work out the modality and establish the necessary framework for the new counter trafficking collaboration.

NAPTIP, Shippers’ Council Collaborate to Arrest Human Trafficking on Waterways

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Ambassador Mamman hails Buratai’s legacy, urges youth mentorship

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Ambassador Mamman hails Buratai’s legacy, urges youth mentorship

By: Zagazola Makama

Ambassador Yusuf Mamman, former Nigerian envoy, has lauded the leadership and reforms of retired Lt.-Gen. Tukur Yusuf Buratai, former Chief of Army Staff, describing him as a “soldier’s soldier” whose tenure transformed the Nigerian Army’s doctrine, structure, and innovation.

Mamman, who chaired the public presentation of the book Life Principles for Greatness from the Life of Lt.-Gen. Tukur Yusuf Buratai, said he accepted the role without hesitation because the work offered lessons for Nigeria’s youth.

He recalled that Buratai rose from a cadet in the Nigerian Defence Academy to become Chief of Army Staff at a time the country faced the existential threat of Boko Haram insurgency.

“He came at a very challenging and difficult time in our national history, when Boko Haram posed the biggest existential threat to Nigeria’s sovereignty and territorial integrity since the civil war,” Mamman said.

According to him, Buratai spearheaded deep and profound changes that reshaped military doctrine, operations, and troop welfare, laying the foundation for the ongoing modernisation of the Nigerian Army.

“He never sought to take credit, but his works were very evident and clear. The master plan for the Army’s modernisation we are following today was driven by his vision,” he added.

Mamman also linked Buratai’s example to the need for youth empowerment, noting that Nigeria’s young people are making significant contributions in technology, media, and the creative industry.

“We must give them the enabling environment to harness their creativity for national greatness. Our future relies on the resilience, creativity, and scholarship of our youth,” he said.

The event, held in Abuja Intercontinental Hotel attracted dignitaries including Senior Military Officers, both serving and retired, Sen. Abdulaziz Yar’adua, Chairman Senate Committee on Army, and other prominent Nigerians.

Ambassador Mamman hails Buratai’s legacy, urges youth mentorship

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Kachalla Alti kills rival bandit kingpin, Dankarami Usaini in Zamfara community

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Kachalla Alti kills rival bandit kingpin, Dankarami Usaini in Zamfara community

By: Zagazola Makama

A feared bandit kingpin, Kachalla Alti, has killed a fellow gang leader in Matsuki village, Tsafe Local Government Area of Zamfara State, in what residents described as a deadly supremacy battle.

Zagazola gathered from sources that the incident, which occurred at about 4:45 p.m. on Monday, has left the community tense and largely deserted.

Witnesses said the slain bandit, identified as Dankarami Usaini, 40, a Hausa native of Matsuki, had long operated from the Dangajeru forest, allegedly extorting residents and attacking those who resisted.

According to locals, Dankarami was in the village to collect levies on behalf of Kachalla Alti, the younger brother of notorious armed gang leader, Adamu Alero.

However, discontent had been brewing among residents over the “excessive harassment” by Dankarami. They reportedly reached out to Kachalla Alti to intervene. Kachalla Alti stormed the village with his men and shot Dankarami dead on the spot.

Following the killing, many residents fled to nearby villages, fearing retaliatory attacks from Dankarami’s loyalists.

Local sources said tension remains high, with sporadic gunfire heard in nearby forest routes.

Kachalla Alti kills rival bandit kingpin, Dankarami Usaini in Zamfara community

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Police, hunters search for kidnapped septuagenarian in Gombe

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Police, hunters search for kidnapped septuagenarian in Gombe

By: Zagazola Makama

Police in Gombe State, in collaboration with local hunters, have launched a search for a 60-year-old man abducted by gunmen in Funakaye Local Government Area.

Sources said the incident occurred on Tuesday at about 12:30 a.m., when about seven armed men stormed the Ganti area of Abuku village via Ribadu Bajoga and kidnapped one Muhammadu Lawal to an unknown location.

Upon receiving the report from the village head of Bage, a joint team of police operatives and hunters mobilised to comb nearby communities in an effort to rescue the victim unhurt.

The sources said no arrests had been made as of the time of filing this report.

Police, hunters search for kidnapped septuagenarian in Gombe

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