Abia State Government and the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons, NAPTIP, have inaugurated the Abia State task force against human trafficking, aimed at protecting vulnerable citizens from the growing menace.

The task force has the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Abia State, Mr. Ikechukwu Uwanna, SAN, as the Chairman.

Inaugurating the task force in Umuahia, Abia State Governor, Alex Otti described the action as a decisive step to eliminate human trafficking and uphold human dignity in the State.

“This moment is not merely ceremonial; it is strategic, purposeful and urgent.

“The establishment of this Task Force marks a decisive step in strengthening our collective resolve to prevent, combat, and ultimately eradicate the scourge of human trafficking within our dear State,” he stated.

Otti, who was represented by his deputy, Ikechukwu Emetu, said that trafficking networks are often linked to organized crime, including drug trafficking and transnational criminal syndicates.

He lamented that families and communities have been affected by the menace but called for enforcement, rehabilitation and reintegration approaches to tackle it.

In her speech, the Director-General of NAPTIP, Mrs. Binta Adamu Bello, noted that the inauguration makes Abia the 25th state in Nigeria to establish a NAPTIP-supported task force against the growing global menace.

In his remarks, Uwanna, SAN, expressed optimism that the initiative would prevent the State from becoming a haven for human traffickers.