…As NIS, NAPTIP Others Discuss Intelligence, Networking, Synergy
…Embark On Capacity Building For Identification Of Traffickers, Human Smugglers
The Comptroller General of Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Muhammad Babandede has stated that synergy among all the relevant agencies was key to combating trafficking in persons and smuggling of migrants from source countries through the transit and to the destination country, a chain that must be broken to stop the ugly trends.
He said this when the operatives of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps(NSCDC) Nigerian Police, Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria(FAAN) National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons(NAPTIP) met in Abuja to chart a course for a robust intelligence, networking and synergy for the identification of suspected traffickers and human smugglers.
An online statement issued by the Public Relations Officer, NIS, Deputy Comptroller of Immigration (DCI) Sunday James, informed that the Comptroller General, who was ably represented by the Assistant Comptroller General of Immigration in-charge of the Migration Directorate ACG Wuraola Adepoju, also added her voice to the need for synergy among the operatives.
The August gathering is also to find a way to curb the scourge of human trafficking and smuggling of migrants that is now call modern slavery.
The statement explained that human trafficking affects the most vulnerable groups; women and children and that the girl child is at the centre of the scourge.
He further added that they are equally lured and ensnared, forced into servitude, forced labour and sex trafficking, harvest of human organs and other forms of manipulation and exploitation.
A combined team of the operatives drawn from formations, where traffickers and human smugglers are likely to use as routes are: airports, seaports and land border frontiers were brought together to proffer solutions and way forward that will strengthen prosecution of identified perpetrators.
The Action Against Trafficking in Persons and Smuggling of Migrants Project(A-TIPSOM),the statement ,said has continued to build the capacities of law enforcement agencies through collaboration with (FIAPP) Ibero-American Foundation for Administration and public policy, Spanish public foundation.
The training is funded by European Union under the A-TIPSOM Project and implemented by FIAPP. Participants were drawn from Edo, FCT, Kano, Katsina, Sokoto, Ogun and Lagos.
The training will improve identification, investigation and prosecution of suspected human traffickers and smugglers of migrants and their networks through synergy among relevant agencies.
