The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) has secured the conviction of 342 persons for human trafficking and other related cases since its inception.
The Director-General of NAPTIP, Ms Julie Okah-Donli made this known when she received the Ambassador of the Republic of Ireland, Sean Hoy, who paid her a courtesy visit in Abuja on Thursday.
Recalls that NAPTIP was established in 2003 by the trafficking in Persons (Prohibition) Enforcement and Administration Act 2003.
Okah-Donli explained that the offenders were convicted in various parts of the country while several other cases were still pending at various courts of law.
She called on members of the European Union to put necessary measures in place to reduce the incidence of human trafficking across the globe.
She said that the international community must rise to end trafficking, saying that the interest of victims of human trafficking should also be the major concern of all.
The NAPTIP boss frowned at some policies and legislations adopted by some of the International communities that directly or indirectly fuel illicit trade of human trafficking.
The director-general, specifically, tasked the visiting envoy on the need to look inward and take decisive step to minimize human trafficking in their country.
According to her, it is essential that those policies and legislations that seem to be encouraging human trafficking are seriously tackled.
“Specifically, those policies that allows the unhindered operations of massaging parlors, brothel and others should be reviewed and outlawed in order to discourage the demand and reduce the supply.
“The Republic of Ireland may be just a transit country for now, but it is certain that if nothing is done to discourage human trafficking and irregular migration within the European countries, the spillover effects may change the profile of the country to both source and destination country as far as human trafficking is concerned.
“So I am calling on all members of the European Union to join hands with NAPTIP to stop human trafficking around the globe.
“We can stop it through deliberate policy and legislations,” she said.
She urged the Republic of Ireland to join other partners that are collaborating with the agency in the areas of awareness creation, intelligence sharing and other counter trafficking projects initiated by the agency.
Earlier in his remarks, the visiting Envoy, Mr Sean Hoy, commended the NAPTIP Boss for the giant stride recorded in the fight against human trafficking in her one year in office.
Hoy disclosed that his country was ready to partner with the agency in its activities, adding that the Republic of Ireland has zero tolerance for human trafficking and other negative vices.
According to him, Irish Navy are among Law Enforcement Agencies working seriously on the Mediterranean Sea on management of irregular migration and the attendant casualties.
