By CALLISTUS OFFOR, Abuja-
The Director General of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), Imaan Sulaiman Ibrahim, has called on regional stakeholders across Africa to partner with the Agency in its renewed efforts to scale up sensitization and awareness campaign against irregular migration and human trafficking
Mrs. Ibrahim made the call on Wednesday in Abuja, while reacting to the recent human casualties recorded as a ship carrying hundreds of migrants capsized off the Libyan coast.
Recent statistical findings from the International Organization for Migration (IOM), revealed that no fewer than 350 migrants have died while crossing the Mediterranean migrating route since the beginning of the year. This therefore raises serious concern on the safety of the migrants.
Reacting to the sad development, the NAPTIP Director General, said effort must be made urgently to arrest the situation and halt the constant carnage on this East African migrating route in order to save lives.
According to her: “I am deeply sad by this avoidable situation that has continued to bring about huge loss of lives and involving a target population of the African continent. While our heart goes for the families of the affected migrants, I wish to call for a regional effort to halt this incessant casualty”.
“While migration remains the right of every persons, caution must be taken to avoid a loss of lives as we have continued to witness on this aforementioned route. Our concern is borne out of the fact that this unhealthy situation could be avoided or best still minimized to the barest minimum if those affected make the choice of traveling right”.
“In as much we are not justifying the occasional loss of lives on this troubled migrating route, it is our belief that this development could be discouraged”. She said.
As part of its renewed effort, The NAPTIP boss said the agency has recently launched the “Blue Bus” campaign movement scaling up the enlightenment and advocacy to discouraged human trafficking and irregular migration.
She explained that the project is supported by the Swiss Government and implemented by the International Organization for Migration (IOM).
“The one stop branding awareness programme involved huge number of stakeholders, development partners, sister Law Enforcement Agencies and an array of Civil Society actors taking the potent message of anti – human trafficking and irregular migration to the unreached areas and regions of Nigeria”.
“Reports on suspected incidents of human trafficking, child abuse and other related crimes are been made aboard the mobile campaign platforms of the Blue Bus as well as counselling of victims and vulnerable people”.
“The victims are said to be mainly a target economically viable class of the population and children who must be protected. Enough is enough of this carnage on the Mediterranean migrating route and we all must rise up and stop it”, she said.
Recall that the NAPTIP boss has brought about new zeal into the activities of the Agency since her assumption of office late last year with greater priority on prevention, partnership, prosecution as well as policy development to counter human trafficking in the country.
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