By Ikhili Monday EBALU, Benin City
A total of 20 Victims and a baby were handed over to Edo State Government by the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP).
The victims, who were recently deported from Libya, were headed over to the government in the spirit of the new partnership for development that exists between the Agency and the Edo State government.
Last week the Director General of NAPTIP, Barr Julie Okah-Donli’ sought the support of Edo State government, in the rehabilitation and empowerment of Victims of human trafficking.
The Executive Governor of Edo State, Mr Godwin Obaseki, who visited the NAPTIP office and shelter, pledged the support of his government in training and empowerment of Victims of human trafficking for proper reintegration so as to address the root causes of the problem of human trafficking.
At the occasion, the Acting Benin Zonal Commander of NAPTIP, Barr Nduka Nwanwenne, commended Edo State government on this laudable initiative for which the Director General of NAPTIP Was highly pleased of the collaboration.
The Head of Service, Edo State, Mrs Gladys Idaho, who received the victims on behalf of Edo State government, said the Governor is concerned with the welfare of everyone in the state.
She said that, ” the entire society must stand up for victims of human trafficking, and enjoined the victims not to have regrets about the past but look forward for an assured future.
The youngest of the victims is a baby of six months old, whose mother, was said to have been impregnated by an insurgent group member during the journey to Libya.
There was also a 9year old boy who was said to have been rescued in the Mediterranean Sea and who lost track of his mother while crossing to Europe, the average age of the victims is 22years.
At the handing over ceremony, some of the victims opted to be trained in vocational skills such as fashion and design, hair dressing, Catering and hotel management, event management while others opted to go back to school
The Governor of Edo State had earlier on pledged to give scholarship to those who want to go back to school.
Leave a Reply