Abakaliki, Nigeria – The Civil Society Organisation on Migration and Development (CSOnetMADE), in collaboration with other partners, has declared commitment to make Ebonyi a “human trafficking free state”.
The group made the declaration on Wednesday, during a mass sensitisation exercise in commemoration of 2025 World Day against Human Trafficking in the state.
The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), in collaboration with the State Taskforce on Human Trafficking (ESTHT), organised the programme with the theme: “Human Trafficking is Organised Crime – End the Exploitation”.
Mrs Goodness Mbaja, the State Coordinator of the network, stated that the resolve was inspired and motivated by collaborative efforts to do more on eradication of the practice in the state.
Mbaja, who is also a Member of Anti-Human Trafficking Taskforce in the state, added that the commitment to action should be a collective call to all stakeholders to ensure safety of everyone.
The coordinator revealed the driving force of the practice to include poverty, gender-based violence and warning signs of communal crisis which exposes vulnerable people.
She urged governments to ensure that poverty is alleviated, and good governance and wellbeing of people promoted.
“We are enjoying robust collaboration with law enforcement agencies in the state and we call for more synergy to tackle the practice,” Mbaja noted
The Member, Pan-African Catholic Theology and Pastoral Network (PACTPAN), Rev Sister Georgina Pemii, said its actively involved in raising awareness against human trafficking and other rights violation.
Pemii, the Trinitarian Missionary of Merciful Love Congregation, said that the PACTPAN little children are actively engaged in the campaign because they have relatives who were victims of human trafficking.
“We are saying no to the act because its destroys the society and the state is no longer a place to get children for trafficking, slavery and domestic helps,” she warned.
Loretta Nwafor, the State Coordinator, Network Against Child Trafficking Abuse and Labour, state chapter, while addressing daily labourers, commercial motorcycle operators and traders at Ahia Ofuru community market, stated that grassroots efforts could address the root causes of trafficking, build resilience and prevention.
In her remarks, Mrs Anne Nwabugwu, a NAPTIP official of the state command, disclosed that the agency is not relenting its efforts to end the practice in the state.
The event featured various law enforcement agencies, key stakeholders and children with cards some of which read “no to human trafficking, children are not for sale, I am not a commodity for sale among other message”.
