By Chukwudi Samuel
The Director-General of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) Imman Suleiman Ibrahim has called for the strengthening of policies, programmes and legal instrument that will further enhance the protection of children in the country.
This is contained in her speech to Mark the 2021 children’s day. The NAPTIP DG said “As the world celebrates children during the 2021 world children day, the Agency join millions of Nigeria across the globe in wishing our children happy children day.
According to the DG, human trafficking and child labour are set of twins evils which currently are affecting every state and region of the country, Suleiman said quite a large number of Nigeria children have fallen victims of illicit commercial activities which includes, human trafficking, sexual exploitation, domestic servitude and street begging.
The DG went further, the safety of our children from kidnappers, abusive parents and guardians as well as the sale of our children for exploitative purposes further reinforces the need to strengthen the resolve to accelerate action on policies and programmes including a legal framework that will help in enhancing the protection of our children from evil elements and criminals minds.
DG said the framework includes the need for the passage and full implementation of the child Right acts and the violence against persons ( Prohibition) act in all States that have neither passed nor implemented to provide a safe net for our children.
To the parents, teachers, guardians and religious leaders, the DG implored them to take cognisance the need to protect our children and wards from unscrupulous elements that see our children as mere commodities.
” It is therefore imperative that parents work closely with NAPTIP and other law enforcement Agencies in ensuring that perpetrators of evil acts towards our children are reported in order to ensure that such perpetrators are brought to book.”
