Shockwaves are reverberating across Yorùbáland and the global Yorùbá diaspora following the sudden death of the Baba Ọba (King’s Father) of the famed Oyotunji African Village in South Carolina, USA. The late Baba Ọba, Lukman Arohunfale, a revered socialite and traditionalist, passed away under circumstances already sparking fierce controversy. His death comes just days after he publicly accused the newly installed Alaafin of Oyo, His Imperial Majesty Oba Akeem Adéyẹmọ Owoade, of allegedly ordering his courtiers to beat him mercilessly during a recent courtesy visit to the Oyo palace in Nigeria. In a widely circulated voice recording, the deceased recounted how what was meant to be a simple homage turned violent. Although the Baba Ọba had reportedly battled ill health in the past year, growing insinuations suggest that the alleged physical assault may have aggravated his condition, ultimately leading to his untimely death. The palace in Oyo recently denied that s...
NAPTIP DG, Julie Okah-Donli
Jethro Ibileke/Benin
The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons, (NAPTIP) Monday raised the alarm that human trafficking now takes a new twist, as traffickers now recruit young people for organ harvesting.
This is even as Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State has declared that there will be no more hiding place for traffickers in the State.
The Benin Zonal Commander of NAPTIP, Barr. Nduka Nwanwenne, made the disclosure to joirnalists in Benin during a five-kilometre walk in commemoration of the United Nation Day Against Trafficking in Persons.
He expressed worry that the fight against human traffickers no longer concentrate on trafficking young girls for prostitution only, but have left the cities to the rural areas where they now recruit unsuspecting victims for organ harvesting.
Nwawwenne disclosed that the agency has rescued no fewer than 500 victims of human trafficking in 2018, adding that the Zonal Command has intensified its enlightenment campaign as part of strategy to win the fight against human trafficking.
He said more collaborative effort is needed in the fight against human trafficking and illegal migration.
Also speaking, Zonal Commandant, Nigerian Immigration Services, Mr. Kayode Eniolohunda, represented by Ehijele Esohe, said the Command has been in the forefront of the fight against irregular migration in the country.
In his remark, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC) represented by its Deputy Superintendent, Akhademe Faith, called on stakeholders to join hands to put an end to human trafficking in order to restore the pride and dignity of the country.
Speaking at a conference organised by the Edo State Taskforce Against Human Trafficking, Governor Obaseki vowed that his administration, in collaboration with stakeholders in the fight against human trafficking and illegal migration, will ensure that the ugly trend is reduced to the barest minimum, even as he declared that there is no hiding place for traffickers in the State.
The conference is to examine and proffer solutions to the root causes of human trafficking in the state.
According to Obaseki, the major reasons people take to irregular migration are economic pressure, family pressure and unemployment, and assured that his administration is working tirelessly to create jobs for Edo citizens.
“As governor, I have vowed to reduce irregular migration in the state to the barest minimum before the end of my tenure with your help.
“My administration has put in place measures which include resettling victims of human trafficking after they are rescued. We provide medical assistance to the returnees as well as training to assist them to acquire skills,” he said.
The Governor restated that his administration is committed to taking governance directly to the people to provide them with opportunities, which was one of the reasons people embarked on illegal migration.
He listed Uhunmwode and Orhionmwon as the local government areas with the highest numbers of persons engaged in irregular migration, and assured that measures have been put in place to boost economic activities in the areas.
The Governor commended the Oba of Benin, Oba Ewuare II, for his support in the fight against the menace and stressed that the Royal Majesty’s intervention has in no small way, discouraged many Edo people from embarking on the risky journeys.
Social justice activist, Dr. Ayode Alakija, in her keynote address, said that a total of 1,037 people travel from Kano State to Tripoli, Libya, daily.
She urged governments at all levels to show commitment in solving the humanitarian crisis in areas that have high numbers of persons who embark on irregular migration.
The Deputy Head of European Union (EU) Delegation to Nigeria and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), Mr. Richard Young, assured that the EU would continue to support Nigeria in tackling irregular migration and human trafficking.
Young commended Governor Obaseki’s efforts at leading from the front, in the fight against human trafficking and illegal immigration in the State.
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