By Kadiri Abdulrahman
Mrs Julie Okah-Donli, the Director-General, National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking In Persons (NAPTIP), has called for the prosecution of foreigners and Nigerians involved in human trafficking.
The director-general made this call during a meeting with a delegation from the French Embassy in Abuja and the Central pour la Répression de laTraite des Êtres Humains (OCRTEH) from France.
Okah-Donli said in a statement signed by Nneka Aniagoh, Press and Public Relations Unit, NAPTIP ” when they arrived NAPTIP for a five-day exchange programme between NAPTIP and OCRTEH,
“The delegation comprised of Le Mer Gérard from the French Embassy, Abuja; Cotelle Patrick, and Beavgendre Lionel from OCRTEH.
“The OCRTEH is the branch of the French Judicial Police that investigates and prosecutes cases of human trafficking for sexual exploitation
Okah-Donli expressed displeasure at the situation whereby human trafficking syndicates or networks were dismantled in European countries, and only Nigerians were prosecuted.
The Head of the French delegation, Cotelle Patrick of OCRTEH, expressed their readiness to work with NAPTIP to address issues of human trafficking.
Patrick said he was satisfied with the efforts of NAPTIP in combating human trafficking, which necessitated their willingness to exchange ideas and experiences with the Nigerian agency.
He pledged the support of OCRTEH to NAPTIP in the fight against human trafficking for sexual exploitation.
Okah-Donli had earlier held a similar meeting with Mr Tyson George of the Canada Border Services Agency at the Canadian High Commission in Accra, Ghana.
The aim was to map out areas of joint projects with the aim of curbing human trafficking and migrants smuggling in Nigeria.
She also met with the Chief of Mission, International Organisation for Migration (IOM), Mr Fratz Celestine, on plans to rescue about 20,000 Nigerian girls trapped into sexual exploitation in Mali. (NAN)
