By; FUNMI ADERINTO, Kaduna
Kaduna State Government, led by Governor Nasir Ahmad el-Rufai on Thursday, has inaugurated a committee to expose criminals behind human trafficking through actions designed to deter, expose, arrest and prosecute them.
The Kaduna State Acting Governor, Dr. Hadiza Sabuwa Balarabe made this known while inaugurating the State Task Force on Human Trafficking to strengthen national response against in the state.
She said the task force will promote inter agency collaboration and contribute to ongoing efforts by the National agency for the promotion of prohibition of trafficking in persons to end human trafficking in the state and the country at large.
According to her, “in our determined efforts to fight the scourge of this modern day slavery and human rights abuse, Kaduna State is inaugurating this taskforce to demonstrate strong commitment to disrupt and break the chain of human trafficking and prosecute perpetrators and render support to victims.
She noted that many social problems require solution through actions to strengthen state and known state multi sectoral response and improve partnership and coordination while seeking support and protection for this trafficked victims.
“Human trafficking victims require that strong and sustained collaborative action fostered among critical stakeholders that is, if we want to bring this criminals to a stand still.,” she stressed.
She explained that regrettably, Nigeria has been Identified as a source, transit and destination country for women and children subjected to trafficking in persons, including forced labour.
” The criminal master minds of this illicit trade are also incorporating child trafficking into their scheme, recruited from rural areas within Nigeria’s border for involuntary domestic services and sexual exploitation,” she pointed out.
The State Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice, A’isha Dikko, who is the chairman of task force in her remarks, thanked the state government for the honour.
She reiterates the commitment to curb human trafficking in Kaduna State, which she described as a big problem.
She assured the acting governor of their total commitment as members of the committee to reducing the scourge of human trafficking and child labour in the state.
She sought the support of all relevant agencies and people for successful discharge of the responsibility.
In her remarks, Director General National Agency for Preventing Trafficking In Persons (NAPTIP),, Dr Fatima Waziri said the essence of states task force committees is basically to coordinate all issue of trafficking in persons at the sub national level in terms of prevention and awareness creation especially amongst young people in urban communities.
“While in the rural areas we also provide support to victims of trafficking, it is important to note that in dealing with victims, there is need to treat them as victims, not criminals.
She charged the newly inaugurated task force to hit the ground running.
At the inauguration which was held at Council Chamber of Sir Kashim Ibrahim House, the task force has membership from agencies of the state and Federal Government as well as other non-state actors and representatives from NOA, CAN, JNI, Immigration, Police, Civil Defence, Jamiyyar Matan Arewa and FOMWAN.
