Adewole Martins
The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons and Other Related Matters wants the Delta State Government to be tough on human traffickers.
The agency is worried that the oil rich state has not been tough on the enforcement of the laws prohibiting human trafficking and child labour.
The agency said apart from the efforts made in the past by law enforcement agencies, Civil Society Organizations and international partners in the state, much success has not been recorded on the part of the state government.
The Commander, Benin Zonal Command, Ebiringa Cordelia, who stated this during the stakeholders’ meeting held in Asaba, maintained that government at all levels need to collaborate with the agency if the fight against the menace must be won.
Cordelia lamented that it had been observed over the years that the needed synergy among the agency, the oil rich state and other anti-trafficking partners, operating in the state has not been desirable.
According to her, the crusade against the menace, especially in Delta State, has not been strong as it should be.
While she adduced the failure to insufficient knowledge of human trafficking related issues, such as the emerging trends in the global business and data collection, Cordelia said the crimes should be everybody’s problems.
She said an end could only be achieved through the sharing of information, guidance and counseling, and constant visit to psychologist, updated statistics, enforced laws to frustrate violations and ability to make rescued children re-unite with their parents and not taken to orphanage homes.
While she maintained that it is only when government collaborates with the agency to prevent the root cause of the problems by combating the ills and dangers inherent in it, she hinted that the Benin Zonal Command has convicted 48 persons and close to 2000 victims rescued.