Wife of Abia Governor, Mrs Nkechi Ikpeazu(2nd L ), Wife of Abia D. Gov, Lady Vivian Oko Chukwu(2nd R), State Commander NAPTIP, Mrs. Nkemdirim Okafor ( L ) NAPTIP Head of Counselling and Rehabilitation, Mary Mpamugo during a courtesy visit to Abia First Lady.
The wife of Abia Governor, Mrs. Nkechi Ikpeazu has welcomed the establishment of National Agency for Prohibition of Traffic in Persons in Abia. Receiving the team of NAPTIP, in her Government House Office in Umuahia, the Governor’s wife said that she has looked forward to having the agency establish it’s operation fully in Abia. According to her,, “Before now, cases from Abia State have had to go to your Enugu Office for attention, but with your arrival now in the state, I expect you to expedite action on matters related to your line of duties ” she said. While we have put in place many structures that would help make your work easier, you will discover a system that will support and complement your efforts to nip offenders in the bud as I assure you of my maximum support. Again, we have had interventions in the area of child abuse, sexual abuse, gender based violence and of course several operational guidelines and documents are being rolled out in the GBV space to help social and case workers like you to succeed. In her address, the Head, Abia State Command, Mrs. Nkemdirim Okafor, said that they came to liase with the wife of Abia Governor, on ways to end child Trafficking in the state. According to her, “we have had so many good stories of your efforts to stamp out abuses of all kinds and we are here today to leverage on those efforts you have made, part of our work is to rescue victims of abuse and trafficking and to reintegrate them back to society”. Okafor, ascertains that human trafficking and baby sailing has become such a lucrative business that needs to put to end as soon as possible because of the trauma its victims suffers. However, the NAPTIP Commander states some of their challenges to be office accommodation, operational vehicles and enforcement personnels to carry out their duties.
