National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) has alleged that parents are the major actors aiding the menace of human trafficking in Oyo State.
Head of NAPTIP, Oyo State office, Mr. Augustine Akanya made the allegation on Wednesday in Ibadan while speaking during a town hall meeting of stakeholders, organised by Adinya Arise Foundation (AAF).
Akanya said that parents, especially mothers were involved in majority of cases of human trafficking he had treated in the state.
He encouraged parents and other stakeholders to tackle the menace without further delay.
He said, “Our role is to tackle human trafficking and violence against persons domestic and international trafficking. Almost 80 per cent of cases of human trafficking that I have treated in the state, parents are involved.
“We have seen situation where mother send the child to Libya and the father is not aware. The role of parents in human trafficking is enormous.
“We should think about it. Let me talk about Middle East, Lebanon, Oman, Libya. Do you know that Nigeria does not have an embassy in Oman? I don’t know what is wrong with us. Our life is even better than some countries.
“Parents are playing major role in this problem. Let us ask questions, let us be concerned about ourselves. Many of them, it is the parents that helped them to borrow money from financial institution.
“We encouraged parents not to allow human trafficking in the state anymore. If you want to travel, go with necessary documents. Save travelling is better,” Akanya said.
Executive Director of AAF, Mrs. Mabel Adinya Ade noted that the programme was aimed at curbing the menace of human trafficking in the country.
She added that the programme has been organised in Benue and Taraba States, saying, “I stand before you today to address a menace that threatens the very fabric of our society-human trafficking.
“This heinous crime exploits the most vulnerable among us, especially our children, robbing them of their innocence, dreams and futures.
“The ripple effects of human trafficking are profound, leading to broken families, shattered communities, and a compromised future for our society.
“Over the past five months, the USAID Palladium Counter Trafficking in Persons (CTIP) project, under the dedicated leadership of the Adinya Arise Foundation (AAF), has made significant strides in combating this scourge in Oyo State.
“Through collaborative efforts, we have enhanced awareness, strengthened support systems for victims, and laid down frameworks that aim to dismantle trafficking networks.
“It has been organised in Benue and Taraba states. The security operatives should wake up and tame the social problem.”
She further urged the government to make laws to address the problem, while stressing that human trafficking should not be condoned in the state, “We have been going round the markets, we don’t want human trafficking in Oyo state. It is a poison.”