ABUJA – The Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Edo state and Chairperson of the State Taskforce Against Human Trafficking and Irregular Migration, Prof. Yinka Omorogbe has called for concerted efforts of both local and international bodies in stemming the tide of human trafficking and irregular migration in the state.
Professor Omorogbe after the screening of a play hosted by Dr Ayoade Alakija and her husband recently in Abuja.
The event which was under the auspices of the Taskforce was attended by several distinguished persons, including members of
the diplomatic corps, heads of agencies and other stakeholders in the fight against human trafficking and irregular migration.
The play showcased the pains, ignorance, poverty and lack of basic education, livelihood and skills, as they contribute to creating an atmosphere of vulnerability of the
victims to exploitation.
Prof. Omorogbe who gave an insight into the works of the Edo State government in the fight against human trafficking, welcomed partnership and ideas in the fight against human trafficking.
According to her, “Irregular migration has become a threat to our Nation. Every month we see cases of potential Nigerian migrants who believe that they can only be successful in Europe.
“No one is really spared from irregular migration; Nigerians of all ethnic groups,
engage in this act,” she noted.
The Attorney General added that “It is not enough to just know the problem; you have to also look at the cause, understand why it happens and how it can change for the better.”
Reviewing the play on irregular migration and human trafficking, titled: “The FALLEN STAR,” the Commissioner said that “it examined the
thought processes of parents, guardians and victims of trafficking, thereby helping the audience understand the mindset of these persons, their motives and the ordeals they endure in an attempt to ensure that they or their loved ones arrive in Europe’s “greener
pastures.
“It also threw light on the most unsavory aspects of human trafficking. Many are enslaved, imprisoned, stranded in the desert or at sea, raped, prostituted, shot at, have their organs harvested an d may ultimately die in the attempt.
“Only the most fortunate are rescued
and returned to Nigeria, assisted by the international Organization for Migration (IOM), European Union assisted flight.
“Edo State Task Force takes responsibility from that point and works to ensure that this vicious cycle ends within this generation.”
Quoting the United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), she said that Nigeria is one of the Leading African countries in human trafficking.
According to her, “It is that need to show emphasis on the implications of irregular migration and human trafficking that led to the birth of this Command Performance by the Edo state Task Force Against Human Trafficking.”
