800 Human Trafficking Victims Rescued In Two Years – Prof Jude Osakwe, Chairman NIDO Africa Continental

The Nigerians in Diaspora Organisation (NIDO) Africa has said that over 800 girls, used for prostitution across the African continent have been rescued, rehabilitated and reintegrated into their various countries in the last two years.

This was disclosed by Prof. Jude Osakwe, chairman of NIDO Africa Continental, during a press conference in Lagos, to herald a campaign which would be launched in Abuja on 20,December 2024.

He said the campaign is to create awareness, especially in Nigeria, on the menace of girls’ trafficking across the African continent and globally.

Osakwe, a research Fellow at the University of Science and Technology, Namibia, said, many of these girls are sadly trafficked by their blood relations.

“Even their parents usually protest against attempts to get their daughters off the hook of traffickers because, according to them, ‘she is doing it with their consent’.

“The situation is made worse by the fact that some countries, such as Senegal, have legalized prostitution, and traffickers only need to get documents that show that the girls are 18 and above for them to be free to engage in prostitution,” Osakwe explained.

The NIDO Africa Continental Chairman added, “usually, these girls who are tricked by benefactors who would offer them bright future abroad, pay for everything, including visas and passports. They usually seize their passports and travel documents once they get to their destinations and force them into prostitution to pay back the money spent to take them out of the country.

“Some of these girls sleep with 10 to 20 men daily just to earn enough to pay back their debt, and by the time they would have finished, they would be wasted and their lives would amount to nothing because many of them don’t even have requisite skills with which they could integrate fully back into the society.”

He said NIDO would love to work with religious leaders in churches and mosques, secondary and tertiary institutions, states and local governments, as well as civil society groups and non-governmental Organisations on the illegal migration and trafficking in persons, and to draw attention to the scourge, which according to him, is soiling the image of Nigeria the African continent and the world.

According to him, the forthcoming campaign, scheduled to hold at the Raw Materials Research Council Pavilion, Maitama, Abuja, is tagged, “Save Our Children Campaign”, and is aimed at shedding light on the heinous crimes of trafficking and mobilizing resources and support for affected individuals and communities.

“NIDO Africa understands that mere awareness is not enough and so will drive an enduring conversation of key stakeholders,including government ministries, NGOs, traditional and religious leaders, and members of the National Assembly, to initiate collaborative efforts aimed at combating human trafficking both domestically and internationally.”

Besides notable speakers slated to feature at the event, other highlights of the programme include the launching of a book on the ills of human trafficking, which according to him, details the true life story of two victims of trafficking who were lucky to be rescued by NIDO Africa from dehumanizing circumstances.

Other activities include the establishment of sustainable support structures for rescued persons, that would go beyond merely repatriating survivors and giving them pittance to go back to their homes, towns and or villages, but ensuring that these people have requisite skills to enable their smooth reintegration into the society, and the inauguration of the NIDO Africa Hall of Fame to honour individuals and organizations who have made significant contributions to the fight against human trafficking.

To this end, he said the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) has pledged its commitment to ensuring the training of some of these victims in skills acquisition to help their full rehabilitation.

“A sustainable support structure is necessary because the emotional and economic scars left by trafficking cannot be healed simply through rescue; hence, NIDO Africa is committed to providing rehabilitative services that will empower survivors and reintegrate them into society.”

The NIDO Africa Continental Chairman therefore, called on all well-meaning Nigerians and members of the global community to unite in this essential fight.

“Human trafficking is an issue that affects us all, transcending borders and cultures; it demands our urgent attention and concerted action. By attending and supporting this event, participants will play a crucial role in safeguarding the rights and freedoms of individuals, particularly children at risk of being trafficked.”