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Osinbajo: Punishment of Offenders not Enough to Stop Trafficking

Osinbajo: Punishment of Offenders not Enough to Stop Trafficking
By: Michael Mike
The Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo has said punishment is not enough to curb cases of human trafficking in the country, insisting that all hands must be on deck to end the menace.
Speaking on Thursday night at the premiere of the viewing of ‘Dangerous Hope’–a film sponsored by United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), which explores human trafficking in the context of irregular migration and forced displacement, the VP who was represented by his Chief of Staff, Mr. Ade Ipaye said: “To win the fight against human trafficking, we must understand how to prevent such a crime from thriving.
“While prosecution and punishments can serve as useful deterrents of the crime, prevention is even more important — to stop the outcome before the process begins. In addition to this, the root causes of human trafficking and the systems of domination that underpin them must be disrupted.”

The Vice President added that: “This explains government’s commitment to tackle these problems by initiating several social safety nets, for the poorest and most vulnerable groups, primarily made up of women and children. Female victims that have been trafficked are subjected to violence at a rate three times higher than males, while children, at a rate that is almost two times higher than adult.”
He noted that: “The Buhari administration has continued to demonstrate support and commitment to strengthening institutional frameworks to combat the menace of human trafficking. This administration’s social investment programme, which is the largest in Africa with a budgetary provision of over N500 billion, is further directed at reducing the susceptibility of these vulnerable groups to the antics of human traffickers.
Today, the National Social Register contains 46 million persons in over 11 million poor and vulnerable households from across the Federation.”
He further revealed that: “One other outstanding milestone in the fight against trafficking is the development and approval of three key national policy documents by the Federal Executive Council (FEC) geared towards coordinating counter-trafficking activities in Nigeria: the National Action Plan on Human Trafficking in Nigeria (2022 – 2026); Protocol for Identification, Safe Return and Rehabilitation of Trafficked Persons and National Policy for Protection and Assistance to Trafficked Persons in Nigeria.”


He however said: “But beyond having policy documents, it is important to coordinate the implementation of these policies very closely. NAPTIP, under the able leadership of Prof. Fatima Waziri- Azi, is further amending its 2015 Trafficking in Persons (Prohibition), Enforcement and Administration Act, to enhance its operational efficiency and keep up with emergent trends and the constantly metamorphosing modus operandi by criminals.”
He added that “However, a phenomenon like trafficking is too big of a problem to be faced by governments alone. It is important for everyone at all levels to be involved. Within many communities, there are networks, coalitions, and groups that can share information, create new partnerships, and provide localised resources that can promote a whole of government and whole of society’s response to human trafficking. I cannot overemphasize the importance of awareness and advocacy on these issues, which is why such collaboration as we are witnessing here today is commendable.”
The UNHCR Representative in Nigeria, Ms. Chansa Kapaya also speaking at the event lamented that forcibly displaced persons, such as IDPs, refugees and asylum seekers, are easy targets for traffickers, who take advantage of their precarious situation to exploit them, adding that: “Being away from their familiar surroundings, these people often lose their community support networks and become socially and culturally isolated.”
Kapaya said: “By October 2022, UNHCR and CARITAS had conducted anti-human trafficking awareness and sensitization activities in 90 schools, 18 community town hall meetings, two markets, two mobile parks, and other public places, reaching over 35,000 people in Cross River and Edo states.
“Moreover, ten cases of suspected trafficking were identified and referred to NAPTIP for investigation and prosecution. We fully support the DG NAPTIP’s 5-point strategic priorities: Prosecution, Protection, Prevention, Partnership and Policy.”
On her part, the DG of NAPTIP, Prof. Fatima Waziri- Azi, disclosed that in
2022, the agency received across its 29 offices and the FCT 1,867 internal trafficking in persons Reports and 255 external trafficking in persons Reports
She added that: “Number of victims received by NAPTIP in 2022 was 2,539 (455 Male, 2,084 Female). Mostly victims of sexual exploitation, followed by victims of forced labour and thirdly procurement for foreign travel that promotes prostitution. Our Katsina office received the highest number of victims of human trafficking in 2022- 995 (705 Female 290 Male).
She also disclosed that in terms of convictions, “we secured:80 convictions in 2022, the highest in a single year since the inception of NAPTIP. We already have 10 convictions for the year 2023. We have 262 ongoing cases in various courts across the country. Cumulatively we have recorded 585 convictions since the inception of NAPTIP. For the first the agency is appealing a judgment by a High Court in Sokoto and we hope to have the judgment overturned for a stiffer penalty.”
Waziri-Azi added that: “The reality of what is happening to Nigerians and consequently to our country, is disturbing. This must change or all will be lost. Lives, freedom, values. Survivors need our solidary! And we need to make the decision that tells us who we are as a people and as a society because we are all implicated in this problem. For NAPTIP we shall continue to scale our efforts and expand our reach through the agency’s 5 prong approaches of prevention, protection, prosecution, partnership and policy.”
Osinbajo: Punishment of Offenders not Enough to Stop Trafficking
News
Zulum Condoles Residents of Malam Fatori over Recent Attack

Zulum Condoles Residents of Malam Fatori over Recent Attack
… Announces Resettlement of Additional 3,000 families
By: Michael Mike
Borno State Governor, Professor Babagana Zulum, has commiserated with the people of Malam Fatori, Abadam local government area, over the recent attack by Boko Haram insurgents that claimed nine lives and left four others injured.
Addressing the people of the area, governor Zulum, whose condolence message was delivered by the Commissioner for Local Government and Emirate Affairs, Hon. Sugun Mai Mele, assured that government will continue to take adequate measures to ensure their safety and the protection of the town.
“We are here at the instance of His Excellency, Governor Babagana Umara Zulum, who is out of the country on an official assignment to condole with the people of Malam Fatori over the recent unfortunate attack. He assured that Borno State government and the military will do everything possible to secure the town”, Zulum assured.
“Malam Fatori is one local government area that we are committed to ensuring its stability because of its strategic importance, urging the people to be more resilient and prayerful to avert future incidents,” he added.
While commending the military for their commitment and gallantry, the commissioner announced the deployment of excavators to dig trenches around the local government headquarters to fortify the town from further attacks by Boko Haram/ISWAP groups.
“Let me warn against colluding with Boko Haram, as we will seek divine intervention from the Holy Quran, anyone found collaborating with the insurgents to bring harm or attack to the people of Malam Fatori will be cursed,”.
Hon. Mai Mele then presented cash support of N500,000 to each of the bereaved families and N250,000 to each of the four individuals undergoing treatment.
Similarly, the Commissioner for Information and Internal Security, Professor Usman Tar, has announced that Borno State government would soon resettle additional 3,000 households in Malam Fatori.
Briefing newsmen shortly after the sympathy visit, the commissioner said this will bring to 5,000, the total number of resettled families.
“Already, Borno State government had resettled 2,000 households, and government is planing to resettle another 3,000 households soon, making it 5,000 households,” Tar announced.
“Let me assure the people that the state government is poised to providing necessary security arrangements, providing the necessary resources and security to consolidate their stay in their homeland,”
Professor Tar called on the people to be resilient and prayerful, urging them to report any suspicious movements to relevant authorities.
Others in the delegation include the member representing the area in the State Assembly, Jamna Bong, permanent secretary Ministry of Information and Internal Security, Aminu Chamalwa, an elder of the area, Maina Mohammed Tar among others.
Zulum Condoles Residents of Malam Fatori over Recent Attack
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Gunmen kill five cows, abduct two children in Plateau

Gunmen kill five cows, abduct two children in Plateau
By: Zagazola Makama
Suspected armed men have attacked a cattle tent in Wumat area of Tarangol District in Bokkos Local Government Area of Plateau State, killing five cows and abducting two children.
Zagazola Makama gathered that the attack occurred in the early hours of Sunday, according to a report made by the Ardo (Fulani leader) of the district.
The victims, identified as Shafiu Nuhu and Abba Nuhu, both sons of a herder named Nuhu Ibrahim, were taken away by the assailants after they invaded the tent and killed the livestock.
The fulani leaders expressed concern over the increasing frequency of such attacks and called for swift intervention to secure the release of the abducted children.
Security operatives later visited the scene and launched a manhunt for the attackers.
Plateau state has been the center of violence resulted from harder and farmers crises. The attacks against the harder communities were underreported and silenced, this is many cases resulting to deadly reprisal.
Gunmen kill five cows, abduct two children in Plateau
News
Man kills father during domestic dispute in Bauchi community

Man kills father during domestic dispute in Bauchi community
By: Zagazola Makama
A man, identified as Limam Muhammad Baba, has allegedly killed his biological father, Malam Baba Siti, during a domestic altercation.
The tragic incident occurred on Thursday, July 3, at about 10:15 p.m., in Uzum village, Giade Local Government Area of Bauchi State, when an argument between the two escalated, leading Limam to strike his father on the head with a stick.
Sources told Zagazola Makama that the victim collapsed immediately and lost consciousness.
Police sources say “The report was received at the Giade Divisional Police Headquarters at about 10:30 p.m. that the suspect used force on his biological father by striking him on the head with a stick, leading to the victim falling unconscious.
He added that a team of police operatives was immediately mobilised to the scene. The suspect was arrested, and the victim was taken to the General Hospital in Giade, where a medical doctor confirmed him dead on arrival.
The police sources said the body of the deceased was deposited at the hospital morgue while an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident has commenced.
He assured that the suspect would be charged to court upon completion of investigation.
Man kills father during domestic dispute in Bauchi community
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