HDI calls for end of human trafficking in Nigeria

Posted by: Abiodun Alade on May 27, 2013 Human Development Initiatives (HDI) has marked the 2013 Child Helpline International Day on May 17 with a call for an end to human trafficking in the country. The event, organized in collaboration with Child Helpline International, Netherlands was held in lagos with over one hundred students drawn from twenty seven schools across Lagos state. Speaking at the programme, a member of the Board of Trustees of HDI, Mrs. Olufunsho Owasanoye noted that human trafficking with its attendant evils is a dangerous trend that must be stopped. “Human trafficking is the transfer of persons by fraudulent means for exploitative purpose. Human traffickers are not always strangers, they could be relatives, neighbours or people you thought were friends” she said. She said Nigeria is a source, transit and destination country for internal and external trafficking with Cross River, Edo, Akwa Ibom, Imo, Abia, Ebonyi, Kwara, Oyo, Osun, Bayelsa and Benue states as the prominent sources of internal trafficked children while Lagos, Ondo, Ogun, Akwa Ibom and Abia states are the destination states. She said most trafficked children are lured with the promise of greener pastures, gifts or monetary gains by the traffickers who take advantage of the victim’s greed, poverty or ignorance. “Traffickers prey on people with promises of higher incomes to improve economic situations, support parents and families in villages, and escape from war and conflict” Mrs. Owasanoye added. According to her, many victims of trafficking in person, especially children are sucked into exploitative labour hidden from public eye such as houseboys and housemaid, factory hands, prostitution including child/teenage prostitution and farm workers among others. The effect of human trafficking on the victims, Owasanoye stated include emotional trauma, sexual abuse, diseases (HIV/STDs), damaged reproductive organs, unwanted pregnancy and mental sickness. She counseled the students to be cautious of the information they give on social media, to be contended, to always speak out and seek appropriate counsel when they are enticed. Mrs. Wemimo Ibiyemi, a teacher at Bank Anthony Junior High School, Sabo-Yaba counseled parents to monitor and care for their children. She also advised the students to be contended, keep the right company and not succumb to pressure from their peer while enjoining the schools to create awareness and always inform their students about the menace of trafficking in person. “Teachers should also treat students like their children because the law of karma is constant” she said. HDI is a leading not-for-profit, non-governmental organization dedicated to serving vulnerable groups by advocacy and programmes that promote equality, justice, solidarity and opportunities.