NAPTIP kicks out human trafficking with novelty match
By Clare Nwaiwu
The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) weekend rounded up its week-long activities to create awareness on the ills of human trafficking with a novelty football match between the staff of the agency and an All Stars team comprising of partner organisations including the Interpol, National Intelligence Agency, Nigeria Immigration Service and the Department of State Service.
The football match which was decided by a penalty shootout which ended in favour of the NAPTIP team, the agency said, was an indication of the determination of NAPTIP and it partner agencies to kick human trafficking out of Nigeria.
The event which held at the Abuja National Stadium, attracted some Nollywood personalities, including, Mrs. Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde and NAPTIP goodwill ambassador, Miss. King Tonto. Former Super Eagles coach, Mr. Samson Siasia who graced the occasion, presented the Cup to the winning team team.
The Director General of NAPTIP Dame Julie Okah-Donli, who gave the opening speech, said that the novelty match resonates with the mission of NAPTIP to kick out human trafficking from shores of Nigeria.
According to her, the commitment of the agency is deeply rooted in its aim to create awareness of the evil of human trafficking. “Human trafficking activities involve people who traffic others for the purpose of harvesting of body organs such as liver, lungs, heart etc. there are also those who bring young and underage children to cities for the purpose of sending them out as house helps”.
She urged Nigerians not to pay any monies meant as salaries of house helps to any agents. This, she said, will encourage such agents in their illegal practice.
The chairman of the occasion and Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Mr. Solomon Dalung, who was represented by a director in the ministry, Mr. Simon Oduyebo, in his opening speech, said that youths were the most affected by the problem of human trafficking.
In her remark, NAPTIP goodwill ambassador, Miss King commended the NAPTIP management and staff for their work saying that Nigerians need to support and encourage them because they put their lives on risk part to apprehend perpetrators of human trafficking.
“Human trafficking is a deadly epidemic that has eaten deeply into our society. Its not about a tribe, its about the country. I’m strongly in support of NAPTIP for all they are doing,” she said.
While Mrs. Jalade-Ekeinde, who also spoke, called on Nigerians to make information about anyone involved in human trafficking available to NAPTIP, saying it could play a major role in eradicating the crime, Siasia, described human trafficking as a disease and said the biggest way to end the menace is through sports.