BENIN CITY – A Non-Governmental Organization (NGO), CLEEN Foundation has called for concerted efforts among law enforcement agencies in Edo State against the menace of human trafficking and forced migration.
Benson Olugbuo, Executive Director of the foundation, who made the call at a two-day capacity building workshop for law enforcement agencies in Edo State, noted that a united front would contribute significantly to solving the problem.
Olugbuo said law enforcement agencies can play a critical role in the fight against the menace through intelligence gathering, prosecution of traffickers within the ambit of the law, protection of victims and others as stipulated by various operational legal frameworks.
The executive director said the capacity building was aimed at increasing the capacity and knowledge of participants on the concepts of trafficking and the operational legal frameworks.
According to him, the role of the law enforcement agencies cannot be downplayed if we are ever going to make significant strides in our effort to overcome this enigma.
He, therefore, urged the participants to be more resolute in fighting human trafficking and forced migration in the state and to provide necessary support for victims.
He expressed gratitude to the United Nations women for their continuous support in implementing the project to bringing critical actors together to effectively design a pathway to solving the problem.
Isaac Akinmoyede, Assitant Inspector-General of Police (AIG) in charge of zone 5, on his part, said the training came at the right time considering the prevailing situation of human trafficking and forced migration in the country.
Akinmoyede, represented by Polycarp Dibia, zonal criminal investigation department, assured of their support to finding a lasting solution to the problem.
Delivering a lecture tilted, “understanding the concepts of trafficking in persons”, Adefunke Abiodun, a facilitator at the training, frowned at the increasing rate of human trafficking in the country, saying that traffickers are always one step ahead of law enforcement agencies.
The agencies that participated in the training include, the Nigeria Police Force, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking In Persons, National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), among others.
