By Austin Angwe, Makurdi
Benue Links Nig. Ltd has revealed that it is working in partnership with the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) to fight rampant cases of human trafficking especially children in the state.
Speaking yesterday in Makurdi while exchanging views with journalist, General Manager of the company, Alexander Fanafa, said to ensure success of this partnership, some members of his management team including himself, four safety and monitoring officers as well as security officers of the organisation have undergone training with NAPTIP.
He said with help of the training, the company within the last two months have recovered about 21 children trafficked from different parts of the state, adding that five were being taken from Benue to Jos, eleven from Lagos to Makurdi, and other places respectively.
Fanafa also told journalists that as soon as they were brought back to Makurdi, the children were handed over to NAPTIP who subsequently reunited them with their family members with the other one at Zaki-Biam in Ukum Local Government area.
“In Benue Links, once you are seen traveling with children particularly, using our training skills with NAPTIP, we separate the person in whose custody we find the children and ask some questions until the acclaimed owner is able to prove ownership through real identities of the children.
“We will invite NAPTIP in case of any suspicion to takeover at that point”. Fanafa told journalists, adding that management under his watch is using Benue Link Company to fight human trafficking.
He also revealed that when those trafficked especially children are discovered from any part of the country, his leadership has decided that such people should be brought back to Benue state using the company vehicles free of charge.
The GM commended Governor Hyacinth Alia for reviving the company which before his arrival had only 13 vehicles with 18 drivers on its payroll, admitting that the 100 buses bought by the government for the company has not only reduced hardship of transporters but greatly contributed to improved livelihood of about 110 people who were taken-off the streets and are earning good living.
He commended the Governor for making a giant stride in the transportation sector and called on Benue people to continue to support the Alia administration for him to also transform other sectors of the state economy.