By Ibironke Ariyo
An NGO, Anti-Kidnapping, Human Trafficking, Child Abuse and Drug Abuse initiative (AKH-TRACADA) has called for urgent measures to protect children from being trafficked.
Mr Belonwu Ezeanyaeche, Founder and Executive Director of the group made the call in a statement in commemoration of the World Day Against Trafficking in Persons on Tuesday in Abuja.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that The World Day Against Trafficking in Persons is observed every year on July 30 and also the day was designated by the United Nations General Assembly in 2013 to draw attention to the plight of millions of men, women and children who are trafficked and exploited every year.
The key is to raise awareness on the issue of human trafficking, promote and protect the rights of victims of trafficking.
The theme for the 2024 World Day Against Trafficking in Persons is “Leaving No Child Behind in the Fight Against Human Trafficking”.
Ezeanyaeche said human trafficking continues to be a serious problem in Nigeria, with thousands of people, especially women and children, trafficked in and out of the country every year.
He said the rate of child trafficking for forced labour, sexual exploitation and other forms of modern slavery was alarming.
He, however, stressed that children were most vulnerable to human trafficking and more needed to be done to protect them.
“Human trafficking is a serious violation of human rights and a major obstacle to development. It is a complex issue that requires collective effort to combat.
“This year’s theme highlights the vulnerability of children to human trafficking and the need for special protection and support.
“Children are the future of our nation and it is our responsibility to protect them from harm.
“Human trafficking is a grave violation of children’s rights and we must do everything possible to prevent it,” he said.
The Executive Director commended the Federal Government for its efforts in combating human trafficking, adding that more needs to be done to address the root causes of the problem.
“We appreciate the government’s efforts to establish the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP).
“But we believe that everyone needs to be careful because more needs to be done to combat this scourge,” he said.
Ezeanyaeche called on the government to provide more support to victims of human trafficking, especially children, including counselling, shelter and economic empowerment.
He also called on the government to prosecute traffickers and bring them to justice.
The NGO leader called on parents, guardians and carers to be vigilant and report any cases of human trafficking to the relevant authorities.
“We call on courageous individuals to join us in taking action to prevent human trafficking, protect its victims and hold traffickers accountable for their crimes.
“Together, we can make a difference and ensure that no child is left behind in the fight against human trafficking,” he said.
