Human Trafficking: Delta Attorney General Assures NAPTIP Of Sustained Synergy

…As NAPTIP Advocates For Special Courts To Try Human Traffickers.

The Chairman of the Delta State Task Force on Human Trafficking and Illegal Migration, Mr. Peter Mrakpor has assured the National Agency for Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons, NAPTIP of the State Government’s commitment in sustaining its synergy with the Agency in combating the menace.

Mr. Peter Mrakpor who is the State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice gave the assurance when he received the new NAPTIP Zonal Commander, Benin Zonal Command, Mrs. Ijeoma Uduok who was in the A-G’s office on a courtesy visit on Tuesday, February 11, 2020.

The Chairman of the State Anti-Human Trafficking Task Force while highlighting some of the efforts already made by the Taskforce since it was inaugurated by the Delta State Governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa in March 2019, identified ignorance, mindset and greed as some of  the reasons why some trafficked persons fall prey to the ploy of human traffickers and their agents.

He expressed confidence that the Taskforce sensitization campaign against the scourge which will gain momentum in the days ahead will achieve its desired result of disabusing the minds of potential prey and illegal immigrants from embarking on the life threatening and dangerous journey to Europe, Asia and other Africa countries.

Earlier, the new Zonal Benin Commander of the Agency, Mrs. Ijeoma Uduok advocated for the establishment of Special Courts to try offenders for accelerated hearing and dispensation of justice.

L-R: Mr. Peter Mrakpor Delta Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice and Mrs. Ijeoma Uduok, NAPTIP Zonal Commander, Benin Zonal Command

She commended the Delta State Governor, Senator Dr. Ifeanyi for inaugurating the State Task Force, saying that it was a show of the Governor’s commitment in fighting the illicit and barbaric trade.

While thanking the Chairman of the State Force for hitting the ground running in carrying out its sensitization campaign, Mrs. Uduok expressed the Agency’s readiness to partner with the Taskforce in preventing the crime as well as arrest, investigation and prosecution of offenders.

In order to decentralized the operations of the Agency, whose Edo-Delta Office was currently located in Benin City, the Edo State capital, Mrs Uduok appealed to the Delta Attorney-General and Chairman of the State Anti-Human Trafficking Taskforce to assist the Agency in securing an office accommodation in Asaba as well as an operational vehicle to facilitate their operations in the State.