BENIN CITY – The CLEEN Foundation, in collaboration with the Italian Government, has intensified its school-to-school campaign against Human Trafficking and Forced Migration amongst youths in Edo State.
It would be recall that CLEEN Foundation, one of the leading and effective Non-governmental and Non-profit-making Organisations at the forefront in the fight against human trafficking in Nigeria had earlier took its advocacy and sensitisation campaign across secondary schools in Oredo, Ikpoba-Okha, Egor and Orhionmwon Local Government Areas of the state.
The Edo State Program and Admin Officer of the foundation, Mrs. Blessing Eromon, while sensitising students of Swift Educational Centre, on Wednesday in Benin City, explained that the “In-School Documentary Show on Preventing Forced Migration and Trafficking of Women and Girls Child in Edo State”, was part of the foundation’s mandate to continuously campaign against human trafficking and forced migration.
She stressed that those who engage in the illicit acts usually take advantage of the students’ ignorance to traffic them abroad for prostitution and other unwholesome undertakings., urging them to be mindful of offers from relatives and religious leaders, who might lure them with empty promises in the guise of providing them greener pastures abroad.
Eromon, encouraged the students to remain focused and committed to their studies as future leaders of the country, adding that “Many youths have died on their way to Europe through either land or sea and at times their vital organs were harvested on their way abroad.
“Travelling to Europe is not entirely evil, but if you must travel overseas, it must be done the right way. Be suspicious, when they begin to tell you not to tell anyone about it, let them know once you get there, or when they begin to shower you with gifts.
“The traffickers could use your parents or close relatives as well as religious leaders to speak to you. Beware of their promises of greener pastures abroad,”, she warned.
Speaking to newsmen, Proprietor of the School, Hon. Adams Eghobamien, while commending CLEEN Foundation for the awareness brought to his school, said continuous advocacy is key to reducing human trafficking and forced migration in Edo State.
similarly, the Foundation on Thursday, in Benin City also admonished parents, staff and students of Blue Dove Education Centre on the danger inherent in human trafficking and forced migration.
Sensitising the people, a facilitator from Women Rights and Health Project, Mrs. Grace Bakare, who spoke on the topic, “Effect of Human Trafficking on our Mental Health” revealed that traffickers now use trends like work opportunities, football, saloon jobs and modelling opportunities amongst others to recruit youths and women to be trafficked.
She added that “Some of the victims are subjected to organ harvesting. They will remove the victims’ liver and kidney, which they sell at black market,”
She further said traffickers also deceive boys by posing as representatives of football academies abroad that they could play for, adding that they will only discover that they have been trafficked once they get to their destination.
“It is very important for everyone to know what trafficking is, the indicators and how to protect self from being trafficked by either friends, family members or even enemies. We hope that after this sensitization you will be able to tell others about the dangers in it,” she said.
Speaking also, Principal of Blue Dove Education Centre, Mrs. Omono Ighodalo Isiramen, blamed poverty, greed and lack of awareness of the antics employed by traffickers and others as some factors aiding the scourge.
