The Anambra State Commander of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons, NAPTIP, Mrs. Judith Chukwu has called for strong collaboration with the Chief Magistrate’s court Awka, to enable the agency discharge its core mandates of investigating and prosecuting human traffickers and related criminal offences in the state.
She made the call in Awka, during a courtesy visit to Dr Mike Anyadiegwu of the Chief Magistrate’s court Awka.
Mrs. Chukwu, who explained that NAPTIP is a federal government agency established to address issues related to trafficking in persons, said aside investigating and prosecuting human traffickers, the agency also has the mandates to coordinate all laws on human trafficking, conduct researches on the menace, establish proper communication channels and work on improving international corporation in the suppression of traffic in persons; partnering with other governmental and non-governmental agencies such as the judiciary to ensure total elimination of all forms of human degradation, exploitations, among others.
She noted that NAPTIP has, within its few years in Anambra, received several reports of offences relating to human trafficking, illegal orphanages, baby factories and In-Vitro Fertilization, IVF, centers, sexual exploitation, child labour, habouring and receiving a person for forced labour, domestic violence against women and children, among others.
The NAPTIP boss identified challenges facing the agency in the state to include securing permanent accommodation and operational structures, and called on the state government to support it for improved service delivery.
Responding, Dr. Anyadiegwu commended NAPTIP for establishing its operational base in Anambra, and noted that the state is fraught with cases relating to trafficking in persons.
He stated that about eighty to ninety percent of criminal cases starts and ends at Magistrate’s courts, and stressed that the agency remains a useful partner in matters of criminal justice reform and administration in any society, considering the mandates given to it by law.
Dr. Mike Anyadiegwu further charged NAPTIP to adopt strong media relations, so as to enjoy constant publicity and wide coverage of its activities in the state, as well as preserve mutual corporations with other relevant agencies, especially the Anambra State Justice Reform Team led by Justice Pete Obiora.
He however called for diligence in prosecution of trafficking in persons and related criminal offences, with a view to assisting Anambra state government in its resolve to fight all forms of criminalities and improve criminal justice administration in the state.
Correspondent, Joseph Egbeocha reports that senior Staff of the agency in the state, including the Head of Investigation and Monitoring unit, Mr. Cosmas Ogalanya, the Public Relations Officer, Mr. Anthony Okafor, among others were part of the visit.
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