The Enugu State Governor on Wednesday inaugurated the Enugu State Task Force on Human Trafficking.
The task force was set up by the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons, NAPTIP, in collaboration with state governments against human trafficking; Attorney Generals of states are the chairmen of the task force to consolidate the efforts of the agency and other stakeholders.
In Enugu, Dame Julie Okah-Donli, Director General, NAPTIP led the team to the Government House, Enugu for the inauguration performed by Gov. Ugwuanyi.
The DG explained, “NAPTIP is the focal agency in the fight against human trafficking in Nigeria. It is also the implementing agency for the Violence Against Persons Prohibition Act 2015, which Enugu State domesticated on 8th May 2019”.
“Problems associated with human traffic especially a large number of Nigerians trapped in sexual and labour exploitation in various African and European countries is a major concern of the Agency and the Nation,” Okah-Donli pointed out.
Expressing worries that human trafficking portends danger to human and national security, the NAPTIP DG further stressed that this menace must be addressed boldly and frontally.
She then called on the task force to ensure adequate sensitization at the grassroots and among vulnerable groups; also to provide services and support to rescued victims as well as information sharing and law enforcement.
In his response, the Enugu State Governor during the inauguration of the Enugu State Task Force, chaired by the State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Chief Miletus Eze, described human trafficking as an open wound on the body of our society, a crime against humanity, and a global phenomenon that exceeds the competence of any community or country.
Ugwuanyi further stated that it requires a mobilization comparable to the size of the phenomenon to be able to eliminate this scourge.
“This administration is committed to a total elimination of the human trafficking menace, hence Enugu was among the first few states in Nigeria to pass the Child Rights and Responsibility Law of 2015,” Ugwuanyi pointed out.
Gov. Ugwuanyi then called for enhanced partnership among government institutions, the private sector, academic institutions, the media, civil society and the faith-based organizations, to eradicate trafficking and rehabilitate survivors.
On behalf of the State task force, the Deputy Chief of Staff to the Governor, Prof. Malachy Okwueze, thanked Gov. Ugwuanyi for finding them worthy to serve the state in this capacity and promised to discharge their duties diligently.
Members of the state task force include Tochukwu, Emmanuel Anyanwuma State Ministry of Justice; Mr. Chuka Umunna, Federal Ministry of Labour& Employment; Okenwa Uzoamaka Uzoechina State Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development; CSP Ezenwa Onyekaba Nigeria Police Force; CIS Nneka Ilojeme Nigerian Immigration Service; Achi Idris National Drug and Law Enforcement Agency; Ikpa Chinyere Rose National Security and Civil Defence Corps, and Uwa Chioma Federal Road Safety Corps.
Others include HRH Igwe Emmanuel Umunna Representative of Traditional Institutions; Prof. Fred Eze, (OHANEZE) Representative of Socio-Cultural Organizations; Ogbuefi Esther Representative of Youths and Women Group; Ogbonna Ugochukwu WACOL, Chinelo Dim WINET, Comrade Elias Agu CLO, Amara Amusi DOVES Foundation and Chinyere Mgbo NAWOJ.
