The Nigerians in Diaspora Organisation (NIDO) Africa, has called on the Nigerian National Assembly to introduce strong legislation that would impose severe penalties on parents or guardians who involve their under-aged children in human trafficking.
The Chairman of the Continental Body, Professor Jude Osakwe made this appeal during the judgment proceedings at the Achimota Circuit Court in Accra, Ghana, where a trafficker was sentenced to 10 years in prison for exploiting 13 under-aged girls, including his two younger sisters. The court also ordered the convict to pay a compensation of 15,000 Ghana Cedis to each of the 13 rescued victims.
Highlighting the need for comprehensive action in the fight against trafficking, Osakwe emphasized that the issue cannot be effectively addressed without tackling complicity at the family level.
He stressed, “Under-aged children cannot give consent to travel or protect themselves. Parents must be held accountable for allowing their children to travel under suspicious circumstances.”
In his remarks, Professor Osakwe cited a concerning incident from Senegal, where parents entrusted their children to a pastor’s wife, who subsequently trafficked them to Mali before sending them to Senegal for forced prostitution.
He noted, “The cycle of trafficking often starts with a breach of trust from those meant to safeguard the child. We need to shift our legal focus to ensure that parental negligence leading to exploitation and abuse carries significant consequences.”
While commending the Ghanaian judiciary for their decisive action, Professor Osakwe expressed grave concerns regarding post-rescue efforts in Nigeria, particularly the role of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP).
He remarked, “Our concern is that agencies like NAPTIP are falling short. The children are not being rehabilitated properly; they are given transport money and sent back home with the stigma of their experiences, risking re-victimization.”
Using this platform, Professor Osakwe lauded the commitment and resilience of NIDO Ghana in combating human trafficking in the region.
He also praised Hon. Dr. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Chairman and CEO of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), for her unwavering dedication to anti-trafficking initiatives and the welfare of Nigerians abroad.
“NiDCOM, under Dr. Dabiri-Erewa’s leadership, has consistently made the fight against human trafficking a priority in its mandate,” he added.
The NIDO Africa leadership urges the Nigerian National Assembly to prioritize this legislative amendment to ensure that the vulnerability of children is not capitalized upon by negligent guardians, thereby strengthening the nation’s overall anti-trafficking framework
This urgent appeal underlines the necessity for coordinated efforts to strengthen legal frameworks and support systems for victims of trafficking, ensuring that both preventive measures and accountability are enforced at all levels.
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