NAPTIP launches “ireport App” to fight human traffickers

In its bid to fight human traffic offenders in the country, the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) has launched a-one-in-all platform for the public called “NAPTIP ireport App”.

Speaking during launch of the app in Abuja on Monday, the Director-General of NAPTIP, Julie Okah-Donli, said that the app is to “scale up the visibility of the agency”.

Okah-Donli said the development is for prompt reportage of issues relating to human trafficking as well as increase the participation and interaction of the general public in human trafficking matters.

“With this, NAPTIP is just a click from you,” she added.

Celebrating the 2018 World Day Against Human Trafficking and the 15 years of existence of the agency, she said the media has become a formidable partner with unwavering commitment “as far as the fight against human trafficking is concerned”.

She said, “The agency has 10 shelters, every office of the NAPTIP has a shelter attached to it where they (victims) are given medical care, psycho-social support and then enrolled into schools for those interested and teach those that want to acquire some skills and afterwards reintegrated with their family”.

As part of activities to mark the celebration, there was a walk by the group in the morning which the director-general described as “a walk against human trafficking.”

Ske said the fight against human trafficking is not a fight just for the Federal Government of Nigeria but a fight for all of the society and government.

She also urged Nigerians to be security conscious.

“Nigerians should be their brother’s keeper and to parents, they should take care of their children, do not allow anyone to traffic your children and do not get trafficked yourself.

“Once human trafficking related issues is reported to the appropriate authority which is NAPTIP, they would get appropriate response;

but if they report to the inappropriate authority, they may not get the response they should get because it is only NAPTIP that is mandated to fight the crime against human trafficking,” she added.

Similarly, the President, Business and Professional Women (BPW), Dupe Utsalo, has condemned human trafficking.

“One of the things we do as a group is networking, mentoring young ladies, women, girls, and widows, standing up for what is right.

We have seven clubs in Abuja and we are ready to say No! Anytime,” she said.

They were given psychosocial support, provided skills, education, medical supports, empowerment and reintegrated to their families and society. Out of these huge number, about 6000 of them have been empowered in various vocations thereby putting them back on track.

“Some of the victims have graduated from tertiary institutions. In fact, last year, 3 of such graduated from the universities, with one having a second class degree Upper Division in Accounting. These are all under the sponsorship of NAPTIP,” she added.