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French Government to Continue Supporting Fight Against Human Trafficking in Nigeria, Others

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French Government to Continue Supporting Fight Against Human Trafficking in Nigeria, Others

By: Michael Mike

The French Government may likely continue in sponsoring the programme to end human trafficking in Nigeria and five other West Africa State.

This was disclosed on Thursday in Abuja at the closing workshop for the European Union (EU)-funded project to support the fight against human trafficking in the States of Gulf of Guinea.

Speaking at the occasion, Alessandra Bianca, the Protection Expert, Expertise France, the French agency for international technical expertise whose mission is part of France’s policy of cooperation, development aid, influence and economic diplomacy, said a lot has been achieved during the four years span of the programme and that is ongoing plan to keep the programme running.

She said: “In 2019, Expertise France obtained funding from the European Union and France for the implementation of the Regional Project to Support the Fight against Trafficking in Persons in six Gulf of Guinea Countries for a period of four years (2019-2023).

“The project aims to support the six partner countries (Togo, Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Guinea, Ghana and Nigeria) in strengthening their actions and capacities for a targeted and effective fight against human trafficking, according to the priorities set by the stakeholders and partners.

“The project focuses on four components, namely (i) institutional, operational and
preventive action consolidation, (ii) law enforcement, (iii) victim protection and (iv) regional cooperation. Through these four components, the project aimed to strengthen the capacities of the institutional systems and mechanisms to combat trafficking in persons.

“The fourth component, on regional cooperation, aimed to boost cross-border
cooperation and implement cooperation measures in accordance with existing bilateral and regional agreements, in partnership with ECOWAS.

“Our strategy of regional intervention fostered a unified approach, allowing us to tailor our responses to the unique needs of each country while fostering collaboration and knowledge sharing.

“Together, we bolstered institutional systems, enhanced law enforcement capabilities, and provided vital protection services to victims of trafficking.

“In Nigeria, our efforts have yielded tangible results. We provided care and support to 660 VoTs and Potential victims of trafficking while sensitizing over 40,000 migrants or potential migrants on the risk of irregular migration (through NACTAL and NGOs).

“Furthermore, critical infrastructure, such as the reception centre for victims of trafficking in Ondo state and the renovated NAPTIP office in Akure, has been revitalized to better serve our communities.

“In addition, a Data management system to store and analyze trafficking-related data was upgraded and Digital travel declaration platform was set up.”

She added that: “As we reflect on our accomplishments, let us also look to the future with optimism. Together, we will continue our efforts to build a world free from the scourge of human trafficking.

Bianca said with great things achieved and many more things to achieve, there is ongoing move to introduce the Phase 2 of the project to continue the good work.

Speaking at the occasion, the Director General, National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), Prof. Fatima Waziri-Azu said: “While we celebrate our accomplishments today, let us also recommit ourselves to the ongoing fight against human trafficking. Our work is far from being over, and it is only through sustained collaboration and collective actions that we can create a world where exploitation and trafficking become relics of the past.”

Waziri-Azu who was represented by the Director of Intelligence (Research and Programme Development), Josiah Emerole, said: “Even as this project comes to an end, it is important to note that a lot still needs to be done, as such, we must continue to unite in seeking ways and means of strengthening our anti-human trafficking strategies and support for the survivors of the crime.

“To the Expertise France team, thank you for actively engaging with us in colaborative efforts to address the root causes of trafficking, and enhance victim protection. To the EU, thank you for the role you continue to play in ensuring human trafficking is curbed across the world.”

French Government to Continue Supporting Fight Against Human Trafficking in Nigeria, Others

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Tipper truck kills several traders in Jalingo market crash

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Tipper truck kills several traders in Jalingo market crash

By: Zagazola Makama

A tragic road accident occurred on Saturday at the popular Mile 6 Market in Jalingo, Taraba State, when a tipper truck loaded with shaft sand lost control and rammed into a crowd of traders and shoppers.

Zagazola learnt the incident, which happened around midday, resulted in multiple fatalities and left several others injured. The exact number of casualties is yet to be confirmed as emergency responders continue rescue operations and assessment of the scene.

Sourcessaid the truck was speeding when one of its front tyres suddenly burst, causing the driver to lose control. The vehicle veered into the busy market area, knocking down people and structures along its path.

“It happened so fast,” said Musa Ibrahim, a local vendor. “The truck was on speed and after the tyre burst, the driver couldn’t control it. It just rammed into the crowd.”

Security operatives and medical personnel arrived swiftly at the scene to evacuate the injured to nearby hospitals. The body of the deceased has also been recovered, while efforts are ongoing to identify victims and notify their families.

The driver of the truck has been apprehended and is currently in custody as investigations continue into the cause of the crash.
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Former Footballer, 4 Others Arrested, Over 22.6kg Cocaine, Meth Seized at Lagos, Enugu Airports

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Former Footballer, 4 Others Arrested, Over 22.6kg Cocaine, Meth Seized at Lagos, Enugu Airports
…72-year-old Grandma, Beninese, Ithers Nabbed in NDLEA Raids in Delta, Kwara, Lagos

By: Michael Mike

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have arrested a former football player Segun George Hunkarin along with his businessman partner Ntoruka Chinedu over attempt to smuggle a consignment of cocaine into Nigeria through the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos.

According to a statement on Sunday by the spokesman of the NDLEA, Femi Babafemi, Chinedu who is a frequent flyer known for conveying clothes from Turkey to Nigeria and foodstuffs from Nigeria to Turkey, was the first to be arrested upon his arrival at the Lagos airport last Tuesday, when his carry-on bag was searched, 37 wraps of cocaine weighing 800 grammes were seen to be concealed therein.

Babafemi said investigation showed that the suspect was coming from Turkey on Ethiopian Airlines flight but transited through Addis Ababa, Ethiopia where he collected the luggage from another person before heading to Nigeria.

He said further checks revealed that an accomplice who turned out to be the former professional footballer, Segun Hunkarin, was waiting for Chinedu at the airport carpark to collect the consignment from him. Hunkarin who had stayed years in Brazil playing for football clubs was promptly tracked and arrested at the carpark.

In his statement, Hunkarin was said to have claimed that while playing professional football in the South American country, he had only trafficked drugs twice from Brazil to Ethiopia but has never brought any to Nigeria.

Another Europe based businessman Amen Okoro was last Friday arrested by NDLEA operatives at the Lagos airport while attempting to traffic 5,000 pills of tramadol 225mg packaged as known malaria drugs such as Lonart, Amatem and Aluktem to Spain.

He was intercepted at the departure hall of terminal 2 of the airport during the outward clearance of passengers on Royal Air Maroc flight to Spain through Casablanca.

Babafemi said Okoro, who is into freight and logistics business between Europe and Nigeria, claimed that on his arrival in Spain, he would have taken a train to France where he resides and from there send the tramadol consignment to Italy for retailing.

At the Akanu Ibiam International Airport (AIIA) Enugu, Babafemi said NDLEA operatives last Friday intercepted a Maputo, Mozambique based bar attendant Ezenwaka Chibuzor. A search of his luggage led to the discovery of 17 cardboard size parcels of methamphetamine weighing 17.500 kilogrammes and three parcels of cocaine weighing 3.05 kilogrammes.

He revealed that the 38-year-old suspect was coming from Johannesburg, South Africa via Addis Ababa, Ethiopia on Ethiopian Airlines flight when he was interdicted and subjected to a search during which the illicit drugs concealed in bedsheets packed in his bags were discovered.

He noted that another passenger on board the same Ethiopian Airlines flight, 54-year-old Azu Kpodar was also intercepted at the Enugu airport by NDLEA operatives. When Azu, who arrived from Sao Paulo, Brazil, was searched, a liquid soap plastic container marked YPE, was discovered in his luggage. The substance was promptly taken for analysis at the NDLEA forensic and chemical laboratory, Enugu where the substance tested positive to cocaine.

The substance which turned out to be liquid cocaine weighed 1.250 kilogrammes, the
suspect who is a toy seller in Brinquedo, Sao Paulo, Brazil, claimed he purchased while shopping for his wedding ceremony in Nigeria.

NDLEA operatives at the Seme border area of Badagry in Lagos last Tuesday intercepted a 26-year-old Beninese Vode Jean-Luck while trying to smuggle 69 balls of skunk, a strain of cannabis with a gross weight of 29.5 kilogrammes from Benin Republic into Nigeria.

In Kwara state, a notorious drug dealer Mary Oladele (a.k.a Iya Nafi) was arrested last Wednesday when NDLEA operatives raided her base in Omu-Aran in Irepodun local government area of the state where various quantities of skunk, tramadol and flunitrazepam were recovered from her.

Babafemi said a 72-year-old grandma Mrs. Christy Ejaro was last Tuesday arrested by NDLEA operatives at Niger CAT area of Warri, Delta state, with several sachets of skunk packaged in retail size recovered from her.

The spokesman said the War Against Drug Abuse, WADA, social advocacy activities by NDLEA commands equally continued across the country in the past week.

Meanwhile, the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (Rtd), while commending the officers and men of MMIA, AIIA, Delta, Kwara, and Seme commands of the agency for the arrests and seizures of the past week, equally praised their counterparts in all the commands across the country for ensuring a fair balance between their drug supply reduction and drug demand reduction efforts.

Former Footballer, 4 Others Arrested, Over 22.6kg Cocaine, Meth Seized at Lagos, Enugu Airports

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Armed bandits abduct resident in Bature Daji, in Niger narrowly miss vigilante target

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Armed bandits abduct resident in Bature Daji, in Niger narrowly miss vigilante target

By: Zagazola Makama

Armed bandits in large numbers stormed Bature Daji community in Niger in the early hours of Saturday, abducting a resident while narrowly missing their original target, a local vigilante member.

Zagazola Makama gathered that the incident occurred around 5:30 a.m. when the attackers invaded the residence of one Dani, a known vigilante operative in the area. He was reportedly the primary target of the assault but managed to escape.

However, the gunmen kidnapped one Attahiru Ibrahim, popularly known as Sarki Daji, from the same neighborhood and whisked him away to an unknown destination.

Local sources revealed that the assailants later moved toward Gorogawu Village, a border community near the Republic of Benin, raising concerns of cross-border movement and security challenges.

A joint team of security forces, including military and other operatives, has launched a pursuit operation to rescue the victim and apprehend the attackers.

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