By Matthew Ogune Abuja
Activist Deji Adeyanju and his client Martins Vincent Otse, popularly known as Very Dark Man (VDM) on Thursday stormed the corporate headquarters of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) to make case for young Nigerian women trafficked to Ivory Coast and currently living in deplorable conditions.
According to Adeyanju, the meeting, which had in attendance the Director General of NAPTIP, the Chairman of the NAPTIP Governing Board, and senior directors from relevant departments, was convened to align efforts towards urgent intervention following the revelations Otse shared on social media regarding the ordeal of the young Nigerian women in Ivory Coast.
At the meeting, VDM began by recounting his first-hand experiences during his recent visit to Ivory Coast and appealed to the Agency to take immediate steps to rescue the victims and bring justice to the perpetrators.
In response, the Director General commended VDM for his patriotism and commitment to national service.
She affirmed the Agency’s readiness to act swiftly and outlined NAPTIP’s collaboration with key bodies including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Justice, DSS, NIA, and the Office of the National Security Adviser.
She also emphasised the diplomatic and procedural hurdles involved in repatriating trafficked persons and ensuring accountability.
The Chairman of the Board praised VDM’s advocacy and encouraged him to use his platform to inspire other young Nigerians to contribute positively to nation-building.
He condemned the crime of trafficking and expressed the Board’s commitment to ensuring severe consequences for the perpetrators.
Directors from various departments further highlighted challenges in prosecution, victim rehabilitation, and public complicity in trafficking networks.
They emphasised the importance of trust-building, ongoing dialogue, and cross-sector collaboration.
The meeting concluded with a strong commitment from NAPTIP to expedite efforts to bring the victims home and ensure that justice is served without delay.
