Patrick Ekpoh
The National Agency for Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons, Uyo Zonal command has called for collaboration and synergy with relevant stakeholders, including the Akwa Ibom State government to tackle human trafficking cases in the state.
The new zonal commander of the agency in the state, Mr Ubong Ekwere, stated this in Uyo while speaking with journalists after receiving nine transferred suspects of human trafficking from the state command of the Nigeria Police to the zonal office on Friday.
He lauded the existing collaboration between the Agency and the police in the state, emphasizing that the courtesy visit he paid to the Commissioner of Police in the state, CP Baba Mohammed, has started yielding dividends as the commissioner has ordered that all human trafficking cases will henceforth be transferred to NAPTIP for further investigation.
Ekwere said “I just paid a courtesy call on the commissioner of police today, and I thanked the police for the role they played in countering human trafficking in the state and Nigeria in general.
“The commissioner said he was looking for an opportunity like this, and that human trafficking cases will be transferred to NAPTIP beginning from today . He also pledged to assist the agency in terms of sharing of intelligence, joint operations, arrest and raid, it was a welcome development”
He disclosed that the nine suspects received by the command have been involved in the illegitimate business of buying and selling of persons which is a crime against the state, emphasizing that all hands must be on deck to fight the crime.
He also called on the state government to join hands with the agency in its fight against human trafficking, adding that most of the children involved are Akwa Ibom children who are also vulnerable.
On the 9 suspects, Ekwere said a discrete investigation would soon commence, adding that at the end of the investigation, the suspects will be charged to court, stressing that there would be no shady deals or impunity
“These nine suspects are going to be here with us, we are going to commence investigation and after the conclusion of the investigation, they will be charged to court, there will be no shady deals, no impunity, all suspects will face the music in court” he said.
