… As NAPTIP inaugurates anti-trafficking in person club at FG College***
The Nigeria Police Force, Oyo State Command, on Friday paraded eight suspects, who allegedly kidnapped Mr. Christopher Bakare, the Farm Manager of the late Adebayo Alao-Akala’s farm.
The suspects also allegedly kidnapped the owner of a private clinic, Dr. Abdulraheed Oladoye, on July 22 at Gbede near Ogbomoso.
Also read: Police kill 2 bandits, recover AK-47 rifle, motorcycle in Kaduna
The newsmen recall that the two abductees were kidnapped on July 16 and July 22 at Jabata and Gbede respectively in Surulere Local Government area.
SP Adewale Osifeso, the command’s Public Relations Officer, parading the suspects on behalf of the state Commissioner of Police, Adebowale Willianms, said the suspects were responsible for the abduction of the two victims.
Williams said the command had rejigged its security architecture in a bid to rid the state of criminal elements and to cater comprehensively and qualitatively to all the people of the state.
The Commissioner of Police said that the command would continue to partner with relevant sister security agencies and non-state actors to collectively meet up and resolve the yearnings and concerns of the good people of the state.
“To this effect, the command today, Friday paraded the abductors of one Christopher Bakare and Dr Rasheed Oladoye, who were kidnapped on July 16 and July 22 at Jabata and Gbede via Ogbomoso axis respectively.
“The command appreciates the residents for their support and enjoined them to be unrelenting and generous with the provision of credible and timely information capable of nipping crimes in the bud at all times,” he said.
Newsmen report that the command also paraded another nine suspects terrorizing the people of Igana, Iwajowa Local Government area, as well as the Ogbomoso axis of the state, for alleged armed robbery, defilement and kidnapping.
One of the suspects told journalists that he had been in the kidnapping business for over two years.
“The victim we kidnapped last gave us a ransom of N1 million and I was given N150, 000 as my share of the money; we used to operate anywhere that is conducive for us in Igana area,” he said.
In the meantime, the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) in Bayelsa says it is taking its campaign against human trafficking and violence against persons to secondary schools.
The newsmen report that NAPTIP on Friday, inaugurated the Vanguard group in Federal Government Girls School Imiringi, in Ogbia LGA in Bayelsa.
Speaking at the event, the State Commander, Mrs Abieyuwa Ikhidero, said the agency was poised to succeed in the total eradication of human trafficking, hence the establishment of the Vanguard groups in Unity Schools.
Ikhidero educated the students and enlightened the teachers on the dangers of human trafficking, child abuse, organ harvesting and gender-based violence.
She urged the NAPTIP-ATIPVAP Vanguard members to be good ambassadors of NAPTIP and also help to create awareness of the dangers of human trafficking among other students.
The student volunteers, in return, promised to propagate the anti-human trafficking message and report all forms of human trafficking cases to the NAPTIP office in Bayelsa.
Mrs Aniah Grace Ovia, the Principal and Mr. Ogunsina Ade, the Vice Principal both commended NAPTIP for establishing the club in the school.
The high point of the event was the nomination and inauguration of the executives for the club.
The members are to serve for an interim period of six months.
The nominees are Ms Williams Favour, President and Ms Obikwu Favour, Vice President.
Ms Lorita Marcel is the Secretary, Ms Egede Anna is, Assistant Secretary while Ms Ibekwe Peace will serve as Financial Secretary.
Others are Ms Nora Williams, Treasurer, Ms Osinachi Jecinta, Public Relations Officer.
The focal teachers to oversee the club are Mr Pius Joseph and Ms Akekere Moudlyn.
