Dr Kayode Fayemi’s Government in Ekiti State through the State’s Ministry of Justice has established a partnership with the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Person (NAPTIP) to strengthen the fight against human trafficking in the State.
The Ekiti State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Olawale Fapohunda made this known while giving his opening remarks at the June Attorney General’s Colloquium hosted by the Ministry of Justice,
themed: The Time of NAPTIP in Fighting Human Trafficking In Nigeria.
Fapohunda stated that the purpose of the colloquium is to provide a platform where not just the lawyers in the Ministry of Justice are informed but also the society can be better informed about the subject matter which has to do with Human Trafficking.
The Attorney General referred to the colloquium as a form of self-education, while also speaking about the necessity for legal backing to making sure that the existing laws really meets the goals pertaining to the issue of Human Trafficking. He mentioned that the Ministry of Justice is reviewing the laws of Ekiti State especially as it relates to criminal contents and the State House of Assembly will be engaged to find ways to enact and implement them.
Fapohunda stressed the importance of strengthening the partnerships with various stakeholders which includes, NAPTIP, FIDA, Security agencies, Traditional rulers, House of Assembly, Legal officers and Market women as all hands must be engaged.
He stated that the fight against Human Trafficking is not just the duties of NAPTIP, FIDA or the Security agencies but all stakeholders, as everyone has a role to play in the eradication of this menace.
The Attorney-General also stressed the commitment of the State Government to eradicating Human Trafficking in all its ramifications and has such inaugurated a State Task Force on Human Trafficking to declare the Fayemi led administration’s zero tolerance for the menace and that the State Government will not allow its lands to be used as a base for perpetration of this crime.
The Guest Speaker, Director-General, National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), Dame Julie Okah-Donli also called for all stakeholders and the public to have all hands on deck to fight the menace of Human Trafficking.
Speaking at the June 2019 Attorney-General’s Colloquium she highlighted the various forms of exploitation in Trafficking which includes, Child maltreatment, Child labor and Child prostitution.
The NAPTIP boss also spoke on the mechanisms used by traffickers in controlling their victims such as, intimidation and threats through the use of violence, rape, emotional abuse, torture, murder and the use of lies and deception to achieve the cooperation of victims and their families, usually delivering false promises of employment, marriage, scholarship and a promise for a greener pasture.
Other mechanisms are debt bondage, oaths taking, emotional abuse, identity control, social isolation, collusion and religion, culture and belief.
Okah-Donli also enumerated the prevalence of Child Labor in the Country in which most of the children used on farms as cheap labor are not even paid when they are engaged in economic activities.
She expressed her delight on the inauguration of the Task Force by the Ekiti State Government to fight Human Trafficking, stating that the coordination and reactivation of technical inter-agency cooperation meetings with key stakeholders, enhancement of capacities of State and Non-State actors, improvement on multi-sectorial partnership to combat trafficking, protection of victims and prosecution of traffickers.
According to her, Human Trafficking is a major threat to human National and International security, and stressed that parents should avoid laziness in taking care of their children and should also be proactive in protecting their children from this menace.
Reacting to these, the Chairman, Council of Traditional Rulers, His Royal Majesty, Oba Michael Oluwole Ademolaju on behalf of all traditional rulers promised their support to NAPTIP and also advised the public to report any sightings of such practices by anyone to the authorities.
The Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Funminiyi Afuye appreciated the innovations of the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Olawale Fapohunda.
While speaking on behalf of all members of the House of Assembly, he promised NAPTIP the full support of the State House of Assembly.
Stating that it was not just the State Governor, Dr. John Kayode Fayemi is interested in the matter but also the wife of the Governor, Erelu Bisi Fayemi who is ever ready to fight against all forms of violence.
The event was attended by Traditional Rulers, Security Chiefs, Honorable members, Legal officers, Market women and other stakeholders in the State.
Packaged by Emmanuel Adeniran
