HUMAN TRAFFICKING AS A DEVELOPMENT MISDEAMOUR IN NIGERIA
Sep 11, 2021
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Nigeria alongside other countries celebrated the year 2021 World Day against Human Trafficking with Theme “Victims’ Voices Lead the Way’’ to create awareness on the crime of Human Trafficking and plight of victims of the heinous act which according to U.S Department of States is third most remunerative crime after sale in drugs and arms. Persons are vulnerable to the crime due to Push and Pull Factors which includes but not limited to extreme improvishment characterized by absence of opportunities and quest to better socio-economic status. It is disheartening that Women and Girls in rural communities are vulnerable due to chronic poverty, lack of opportunities and Sexual and Gender Based Violence in addition to absence of knowledge on what constitutes human trafficking and even illegal migration all of which Human Traffickers use to take negative advantage of their victims.
Reducing to barest minimum Human Trafficking in Nigeria which according to the European Union, 92% of trafficked persons to Europe are Nigerians, hence a need for conscious and consistent efforts by Government at all levels to provide basic necessities for citizens particularly those in rural communities while also putting in place sustainable and effective social protection programs without which the crime would continue to thrive and hapless persons would remain victims.