Oba of Benin, Belgium Envoy Rally Support against Human Trafficking

Adibe Emenyonu in Benin City

The Oba of Benin, Oba Ewuare II, and the Ambassador of Belgium to Nigeria, Pieter Leenknegt, have called for collaboration and sustained advocacy against human trafficking and irregular migration.

They made their positions known at the weekend when Leenknegt, accompanied by the Managing Director of Edo State Investment Promotion Office (ESIPO), Kelvin Uwaibi, and a director in the state civil service, Mosis Obakpolor, paid a courtesy visit to the palace of the Oba, in Benin City, the Edo State capital

Addressing the visitors, Oba Ewuare II said that human trafficking won’t be completely eradicated from society, except with concerted efforts.

The monarch said human trafficking and irregular migration, which are intertwined, though not peculiar to the African continent, posed a great threat to Europe and other continents of the world.

 He recalled how the palace took serious steps to address the scourge when Benin City was erroneously tagged, by Western media, as a hub for human trafficking a few years back.

According to the Benin monarch, “Human trafficking is a menace that has been with mankind for a long time. The problem is that human trafficking is tied to irregular migration.”

On his part, Leenknegt lamented the plights of many Nigerian migrants, adding that they are being exploited. 

He commended Oba Ewuare II for leading the campaign against human trafficking and irregular migration, noting that the Belgian government will cooperate with the Nigerian government, relevant institutions and other stakeholders in sensitising the people about the risk of getting entangled in the network of human traffickers. 

He said: “Your Majesty, I know that the fight against human trafficking and exploitation is very close to your heart.”