NAPTIP, others mobilize support to limit child trafficking in Edo

The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), alongside relevant stakeholders, on Tuesday organised a road walk to advocate for an end to child trafficking in the state.

Mr Ganiu Aganran, Coordinator, Benin Zonal Command of NAPTIP, told reporters  in Benin that the aim was to commemorate the 2024 World Day Against Human Trafficking, marked every July 30.

Aganran said that the theme for 2024 was: “Leave No Child Behind in the Fight Against Human Trafficking.”

He stated that this year’s global campaign focuses on the vulnerability of children and urged accelerated action to end child trafficking.

Represented by Mrs Victoria Oburoh, Head of the Legal and Prosecution Unit, NAPTIP, Benin, Aganran added, “Children are subjected to various forms of trafficking, including exploitation.

“Exploitation in forms of forced labour, criminality, or begging, trafficked for illegal adoption, and online and sexual abuse.

“According to the UNODC Global Report on Trafficking in Persons, one in three victims of human trafficking is a child.”

Mr Aigbeze Uhimwen, Senior Project Assistant at the International Organisation for Migration, said this year’s theme was apt because sometimes the voices of children were not heard.

He said that all hands must be on deck to tackle this scourge.

“It is a holistic approach that can reduce the tides of human trafficking.

“All stakeholders must take the anti-human trafficking messages to the grassroots, with emphasis on the ills of child trafficking,” he said.

Mr. Evans Ehiremen, Edo Coordinator of the Network Against Child Trafficking, Abuse, and Labour, commended all stakeholders for their efforts in tackling human trafficking.

He called for stronger collaboration in the fight against human trafficking, noting that more people were now becoming susceptible to trafficking.

“Due to the economic challenges, people are now becoming victims of trafficking, so we need to do more to stop this trend.

” Let’s pay more attention to our children. They are our future and need our protection from harm,” he said.