By Bavoriat Clara
The Director-General of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), Binta Adamu Bello, OON, has charged officers and men of the Makurdi Zonal Command to redouble their efforts in combating human trafficking and violence against persons in Benue State, in line with the agency’s renewed operational strategies.
Bello gave the directive in Makurdi during an interactive session with personnel as part of activities marking her official visit to the state.
The Director-General noted that the evolving nature and emerging dimensions of human trafficking, driven largely by large-scale displacement, require intensified surveillance of vulnerable locations and settlements. She therefore urged operatives to scale up monitoring and preventive actions across the state.
She further assured the personnel that the current administration under her leadership would continue to implement workforce-centred policies and initiatives aimed at addressing their welfare needs and boosting productivity.
Earlier in her welcome address, the Zonal Commander, Gloria Bai, expressed appreciation to the Director-General for her responsive and staff-focused policies. She pledged the command’s continued commitment to discharging its duties in line with the agency’s mandate and the strategic direction of the Director-General.
The highlight of the visit was an interactive session during which officers openly shared their concerns and jointly commended the Director-General for her leadership.
The visit formed part of side-line activities involving a delegation from the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Nigeria, NAPTIP and the International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD). Other events included the inauguration of a school improvement project under the STEAP initiative and capacity-building workshops for NAPTIP investigators, prosecutors, and related enforcement agencies on Trafficking in Persons (TIP) and Violence Against Persons (VAP).
The programme is organised by ICMPD in partnership with NAPTIP, with support from the Ministry of Asylum and Migration of the Kingdom of the Netherlands under the Building an Environment Free of Human Trafficking and Violence Against Persons in Nigeria (TIPVAP NG) project.
admin