The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking In Persons (NAPTIP), Abia State Command,as part of activities to mark this year’s World Trafficking Day, has organised a programme in Abia.
The Agency in Abia kicked out human trafficking by issuing a Red Alert to all those involved.
In an event that was organised at the Women Development Centre,Umuahia, to mark the 2021 World Trafficking Day, the Chief Liaison officer of NAPTIP Abia state command,Mrs Nkemdirim Okafor, said Abia NAPTIP would be taking its message to rural areas, as it was observed that most trafficked persons live in rural areas.
The NAPTIP Chief Liaison officer, said the World Trafficking Day, is an annual event that is celebrated every 30th of July. According to her, Nigeria is part of the signatories with the United Nations, that endorsed the event.
Mrs Okafor stated that trafficking has become a trade for some people, hence the urgent need to clamp down the activities of traffickers.
She said the girl child and women are majorly vulnerable, as well as those living in the hither land, hence the need for the agency to organise a sensitization campaign to bring to a stop the activities of traffickers.
The Abia NAPTIP officer stated that under age children are majorly used by these traffickers to carry out their evil deeds.
“Often times, these traffickers lure the parents of these children to release their children to them, with the promise of sending them to school.At the end of the day, these children are used for hawking, house helps,shop attendants among others.
” It is from here, that they get exposed to all forms of social vices”. she maintained.
However, the NAPTIP boss, called on parents to bring their children close to them, counsel and send them to school, as well as get involved in their development.
She also advised parents to be watchful of the friends their children keep and ensure they separate their children from any friend that is capable of destroying them.
The Head of Counselling/Rehabilitation Unit NAPTIP, Mrs Mary-Jude Mpamugo in her paper presentation, said human trafficking is a crime that exploits women, children and men for numerous purposes, including forced labour and sex.
Mrs Mpamugo stated that globally, countries are detecting and reporting more victims and as well, convicting more traffickers.
“Every country in the world is affected by human trafficking, whether as a country of origin, transit or destination of victims”.
According to her, traffickers all over the world continue to target women and girls.
She added that data shows that the share of persons trafficked within their own country has doubled in recent years to 58 percent of all detected victims, according to the 2018 global report in trafficking in persons.
Mpamugo further enjoined Abians to speak up anytime they detect a trafficker, especially now that NAPTIP is in Abia state.
In their Goodwill messages the founders of NONI Development Foundation, Evangelist Ngwanma Onuoha and the founder of NOOKKI Foundation,Dr Mrs Orieji Uka, advised students to always reject any advances made to them by either their male or female teachers.
According to them, human trafficking is a social problem that demands the efforts of all to fight it.
Evang Onuoha specifically stated that students should for no reason abandon their education, urging parents to be up and doing in their parental responsibilities.
Earlier, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Women Affairs Rev. Mrs Jane Omereonye, who was represented by Mrs Nnennaya Onwuka, thanked the NAPTIP for using this year’s celebration to address the activities of traffickers in the state, adding that women and children in a worst hit, therefore, the need for all hands to be on deck to stamp the tide of trafficking in persons, because anything that atfects the women, has affected the society.
The event also featured a talk show from students, on the need for parents to put a warch on their children at all times.
