The Enugu State Government has commenced operation to clamp down on unapproved orphanages and brothels used as conduits for human trafficking in the state, and vowed to prosecute owners of such facilities and human traffickers in the state
Penpushing reports that the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice in Enugu State, Kingsley Udeh, made this known during an advocacy meeting with the Enugu Zonal Commander of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), Sam Offiah.
The Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice declared that rather than turning the state to such ridicule situation the Governor Peter Mbah led administration was interested in making the state the preferred destination for investment, business, tourism and living.
Penpushing further reports that Udeh added that the state will work with security and law enforcement agencies to stamp out human trafficking in the state and urged NAPTIP to strengthen the State Task Force against human trafficking to decisively tackle the menace in the state.
The Enugu State Government and National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) at the meeting resolved to work with other agencies to jointly draw up an action plan to optimise the performance of the task force and improve outcomes, including deterring potential human traffickers as well as supporting victims of human trafficking.
Penpushing also reports that Udeh said the administration of Governor Mbah will not tolerate trading in human persons or human organs in any form and warned that anyone caught in the act would be punished according to the law.
The Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice expressed readiness to issue a general fiat to NAPTIP, which the anti-trafficking agency earlier requested, to enable it to prosecute human traffickers under the state’s law.
Penpushing further reports that the NAPTIP’s Zonal Commander, in response told the Attorney-General that the agency has a shelter, where victims taken from abusive homes and brothels are kept until they are integrated back into society.
The zonal commander explained that sheltering victims of human trafficking was part of the agency’s mandate, and equally appealed to commissioner of justice to assist the agency in securing decent accommodation noting that they are currently staying in a rented apartment that is insufficient and not conducive for its operations.
Penpushing also reports that he said other challenges affecting their operation in the state include lack of logistics, like vehicles, as well as operational resources for running the agency.
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