By
Bridget Ikyado
The National Agency for the
Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) has recorded 217 cases of human
trafficking in Benue in the past five years.
The Zonal Commander of NAPTIP in the
state, Mr Ganiu Alao, made the disclosure in an interview with newsmen on
Wednesday in Makurdi.
Alao, who assumed office in Benue on
Oct. 15, noted, however, that the state had been witnessing steady reduction in
human trafficking cases in recent times.
He disclosed that 14 people had been
convicted for human trafficking crimes while 14 cases were currently in various
courts in the state.
According to him, only eight cases of
child abuse and human trafficking have been recorded in the state this year.
Alao said that the agency had
embarked on a sensitisation campaign in a bid to eradicate human trafficking at
the grassroots.
The commander lauded the Benue
Government for enacting a legislation to stamp out human trafficking, child
labour, rape and other related crimes.
He said that officials of NAPTIP had
started keeping tabs on camps, housing internally displaced people, following
reports of human trafficking in the camps.
“The agency is determined to change
the narrative by talking to vulnerable people on the need to protect
themselves, their children and their wards.
“It is painful to note that these
heartless traffickers feed on the vulnerability and the wide range of ignorance
of the people, especially those in rural communities.
“This is why we have decided to bring
our sensitisation train to the rural areas.
“This campaign is going to be
sustained and we will continue to monitor events within communities in every
part of Benue State.’’
According to him, the agency will be
collaborating with media organisations, faith-based groups and other
stakeholders to stamp out human trafficking everywhere.
Culled from NAN
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