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The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons, NAPTIP, is worried about the rising incidents of human trafficking in Anambra State.
The NAPTIP State Commander, Mrs Ibadin Judith-Chukwu, expressed the concern while fielding questions from Radio Nigeria on the activities of the command since its inception about two years ago.
The State Commander regretted that despite the soaring cases of trafficking in persons across the nooks and crannies of Anambra State, the citizens are yet to wake up to the ugly reality.
“Human trafficking is happening in Anambra State big time. It’s just that the citizens are not aware that it is a river trying to swallow everyone. From selling of children, buying and selling of human beings and trafficking for sexual exploitation”.
“There are some spots here where young under-aged girls are being brought from neighbouring states and even from Anambra State and camp in these brothels. Men come to sleep with them. I mean, the girls don’t even have control of the number of men they want to sleep with. All that the madam or the trafficker wants is her money, Mrs Judith-Chukwu lamented”.
She linked the increasing wave of human trafficking in Anambra State and the South-East Zone to the royal curse placed on traffickers by the Oba of Benin, which according to her had compelled some of the criminals to relocate to neighbouring states including Delta and Anambra states.
The agency, according to the State Commander had since inception recorded over forty cases, some of which would be charged to court very soon.
“Cases are not what you get today rush to court tomorrow. You ensure that you have all the facts you need to win the cases. We have our lawyers that are NAPTIP officers. We have our trained investigators, who are diligent in investigating and ensuring that the cases go to court. They ones we have gathered, the ones you have investigated, very soon, we will begin prosecution”.
The NAPTIP Commander appealed to residents of the state to support its activities for a successful fight against the crime of human trafficking in the area.
A Ajayi
