Benin city — Following the protest by some Libya returnees of Edo state origin over an alleged selective empowerment, the Chairman, Taskforce Against Human Trafficking, Prof Yinka Omorogbe, has debunked the allegations, stating that, her taskforce will soon publish names of returnees that has benefited from the state’s government rehabilitation programme.
Prof Omorogbe who doubles as the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, stated this while speaking with The Nigerian Observer yesterday in Benin city.
The Taskforce Chairman said, the state government had commenced the payment of N20,000 each for 3months, coupled with training and empowerment for over 3,000 returnees.
The Attorney General, while asserting that the welfare of returnees are of immense concern to the Godwin Obaseki’s led government, noted, the trainings and empowerment are ongoing, and called on those that are yet to benefit to come forward.
“One thing we need to understand is that for every single returnee that is coming to the state is being given N20,000 for 3-Months and we are going through that process now.
“In addition to that, they (returnees) are being given training with stipend and starter income by the state government and it is done gradually and there is improvement”. She said.
The anti human trafficking boss explained that, the allegations of systematic delay of payments and shortchanging of returnees is unfounded, adding, no returnee documented by Edo state government is being shortchange as alleged by the protesters.
Omorogbe further stated that, among the returnees are pregnant women and nursing mothers whose health are being cater for by the state government outside the normal monthly stipend.
She however clarify the arrest of one Jude Ikhuenobe (returnee) on the 9th of March 2018 at the National Museum ground, which she attributed to Ikhuenobe’s destruction of government property and had since been charged to court.
On the issue of alleged deductions of N1,100 by Heritage Bank from their monthly stipends, when contacted, a top official of the Bank who pleaded anonymity, said, “if any money was deducted as they (protesters) claim, I think it should be for ATM card”.
It would be recalled that, some returnees had earlier staged a protest to call the attention of the state government to look into the alleged deductions by the Bank as well as the activities of some members of the taskforce.
The protesters who stated their position in a petition signed by Vincent David (Chairman), Okosun Festus (Vice Chairman) and Amawu Osariemen (Secretary) and addressed to Edo state governor, Godwin Obaseki, commended him “for the courage and the determination to deal with issues of human trafficking and illegal migration in Edo state”.
