Anambra Justice Commissioner Seeks 2-year Action Plan on Human Trafficking

By Praise Chinecherem

The Commissioner for Justice and Attorney General of Anambra State, Prof. Sylvia Ifemeje has pledged to push for the approval of the two-year State Action Plan on Human Trafficking by the Executive Council, to give a boost to the campaign against the crime.

Ifemeje who gave the charge while addressing members of the state Task Force on Human Trafficking during a meeting in Awka, appealed to all well-meaning citizens to redouble efforts towards ending the menace of human trafficking in the state.

She acknowledged that nothing much can be achieved without funding, assuring that the State Government will make some funds available for the Task Force in its 2023 budget.

The Attorney General, who is also the chairman of the Task Force stressed the need for intensified sensitization and awareness campaign especially at the grassroots to reduce the level of vulnerability among citizens.

“Intensified sensitization should be targetted at the down-trodden and poorest of the poor, who are more vulnerable to the tricks of these criminals due to their desperate search for survival,” she said.

The Commander, National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons, NAPTIP in Anambra State and co-chair of the Task Force, Mrs Ibadin Judith-Chukwu, explained that the 2022-2023 Action Plan was developed to further strengthen counter-trafficking campaign in the state.

She lamented the soaring incidents of trafficking in various forms which are turning Anambra into a haven for the criminals.

Judith-chukwu appealed to task force members to demonstrate greater commitment towards undermining the gains of the traffickers and safeguarding the citizens from the dangerous tricks of the criminals. 

She said, “The Anambra State Action Plan on Human Trafficking is drawn from National Action Plan while we take care of the peculiarities we have here. It will serve as a guide for the task force in its counter-trafficking efforts.

“Since the constitution of the state Task forces, the global rating of Nigeria and its anti- human trafficking activities has improved.

“But, much more is solicited from all of us to keep to improve our rating from tier 2 watchlist to tier 2 and eventually tier 1”. 

Members of the task force took turns to renew their dedication to the onerous task of stamping the crime of human trafficking out of the state.