Human trafficking: Sanctity of institutional responses and the place of citizens’ intelligence
Illicit ventures is no new phenomenon to Nigeria. However, disturbing are the notations of the reverberation of the various wings of several estates bearing reflections to the escapades of illegal ventures in the Country. Of the broad wings of the prohibited estates bearing strings of records to illegitimate ventures, trafficking has remained one broad brand of concern with wings of sprouting versions of deep seated operations. While the cartels of hard drug trafficking have been known to have throng widely with strings of expanding networks, the escapade of trafficking of human appears to bear deforming representation of illegitimate estates against sensations of good appeals to the course of humanity.
Recently, the need to clampdown on the estate has become reverberating following revelations of the deforming character of the narratives of the ordeals which have been noted to be meted against the victims of the escapade. As a seeming campaign continue to rise against an estate that has been seen to be counter-normative to the sense of good appeals of living conditions, the operations of institutionalised structure of government authorities have seen rising disclosures trailing the tracking of networks of the operators of illegitimate structures of the unlawful cartels.
On Wednesday, the Benin Zonal Command of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), disclosed it rescued no less than 105 victims of human trafficking in various operations in 2021. The NAPTIP Zonal Commander, Benin, Mr Nduka Nwannwenne, had disclosed to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Benin that no less than 134 cases of human trafficking were received by the command in the period under review; 75 suspected traffickers were arrested, while three human traffickers were convicted by law courts during the period, as 65 cases were still pending in law courts. According to him, some of the rescued victims have already been reunited with their families, while some have been empowered with skills to engage in businesses.
According to him, the blue bus campaign concept aimed at raising awareness on dangers of human trafficking has been effective in the zone. “The blue bus concept is a one-stop shop for issues of human trafficking. With the blue bus initiative which is been done with the International Organisation on Migration (IOM), there has been increased in reported cases of human trafficking,” he said.
Increasing cases of how this illicit estate is taking extensive network has become disturbing. This is largely troublesome when thought is given to the terms and conditions which the victims of this estate are subjected to. As observed, such terms have been found to be structured on stiffening contractual engagements. Narratives of the inhumane conditions of service which governs the abysmal contract have left soury accounts leaving the victims with negative experiences. The emotional and psychological trauma would not seem to be of permissible appeal. The alarm have brought forth the necessity to combat the illicit estate.
In February, 2022, NAPTIP had disclosed the rescue of 61 victims of human trafficking in Kongolom International border Post, Maiadua in Katsina state. In January, 2022, it was disclosed that a joint operation of the NAPTIP, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Nigeria High Commission in New Delhi, India, the New Delhi Police and activists from the New Delhi-based Anti-Human Trafficking Organisation (Vihaan-WMS) led to the arrest of a notorious human trafficker, named Joy Okah. Earlier in January, 19th 2022, it was disclosed that a combined team of operatives of NAPTIP and the Department of State Services, Imo State Command, had rescued a middle-aged Burundian woman and her three children suspected to be victims of human trafficking. In a related development, NAPTIP, Benue State Zonal Command, had same date, reunited 32 victims of human trafficking with their families. The victims were intercepted by the police on January 5 while being trafficked to Osun State.
It has become imperative for synchronisation of such campaign formations as of the blue bus initiative to begin to take stronger course. The role of the Government in this course is pertinent to push a full drive against the network of the estate of trafficking of persons. Such campaign of intelligent orientations are essential to raise ideological responses against the menace, just as it is of necessity to raise awareness for sensitisation of citizens, many of whom have been subjected to inhumane treatments having fallen victims of the illegitimacy of the system.
As more citizens are having taste of the afflictions of falling victims of the ill-appeals of the unfortunate dealings of the illegal estates, the need to develop concerted schemes conforming to construct a full architecture of responses to clampdown on the illegal escapades has become necessary. As concerns continue to rise, while the government plays the role to build up responses against the illegal ventures, it is pertinent for other societal institutional fabrics, including civil society organisations, other non-governmental bodies and human right institutions to rise to join the Course. This is just as it is pertinent for citizens to become very sensitive and enlightened in the course of seeking greener pastures. Desperation for same, has seen the perpetrators of the unlawful estate getting more citizens to fall into the net of their snares.
