By Stella Anekwe
Anambra State Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Welfare, Hon.Mrs. Chinyere Esther Onyekesi yesterday gave a red card warning to all those involved in Human Trafficking in the State.
Onyekesi gave the warming when the Anambra State Commander of National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons, NAPTIP, Mrs Ibadin Judith Onyinye Chukwu
paid her a courtesy visit in her office in Awka.
She warned that trafficking had no place in Anambra pointing out that the Governor's wife, Dr. Mrs. Nonye Soloudo had zero tolerance for anything trafficking in persons and issues against children in the society.
She encouraged all Non- Governmental Organizations, NGO's in Anambra state to desist from actions that will jeopardize the functions of NAPTIP but to collaborate with NAPTIP to achieve results.
On the request from NAPTIP for Governor's wife to assist with shelter for harbouring victims of trafficked victims and rescued victims of baby factory and the likes , Onyekesi assured to present their request before the Governor's wife.
The Women Affairs Commissioner assured NAPTIP of partnership to ensure the mandate was actualised in Anambra state.
Earlier, the Anambra State Commander of NAPTIP, Mrs Chukwu thanked the Commissioner for granting her and her team audience while appreciating the partnership of the agency with Anambra State since 2019 the agency started operations in Anambra.
Mrs. Chukwu said that the agency was happy with the Women Affairs ministry, and pleaded for special support for the agency to shelter victims of trafficking and support their litigation to stop traffickers in their track.
She said that the ministry was vital to what NAPTIP was doing hene the need for strong collaborations with different agencies in abating child trafficking and all forms of danger to the children.
She warned against impersonation of the agency by some members of the Non Governmental Organizations -NGO , advising that they limit themselves to their mandate since only NAPTIP has the mandate to investigate and carry out the operational duties of prosecution both locally, nationally and international trafficking cases.
She noted that trafficking was not only travelling out of one's base with or without consent but any case involving children like molestation, child labour, sexual abuse, selling of babies and baby factory syndrome to mention but a few.
"Only NAPTIP has the capacity to prosecute the perpetrators, take into consideration the welfare of victims and shelter them among others. We are asking the Anambra first lady to assist the agency in providing shelter for victims of trafficking, as shelter is a major problem for us", Chukwu said.
She lamented that traffickers still lured girls into prostitution in some African countries including Ghana while at home baby factory business was ruining lives causing HIV/AIDS to spread.
She asked for support for the agency even though it was a federal government agency but operating in Anambra.
She also raised alarm of existing baby factories in Anambra state even as she asked for support for the
July 30th 2026 World Day against Human trafficking celebration in Anambra since funding is a challenge in NAPTIP.
She thanked the ministry for what it had done so far for NAPTIP.
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