‘Secrecy hinders fight against human trafficking’

August 21, 2012 by Agency Reporter

Coordinator, Women Trafficking and Child Labour Eradication Foundation, Mrs. Veronica Umaru, has said the clandestine nature of human trafficking is hindering the fight against the vice in Nigeria.

Umaru told the News Agency of Nigeria in Lagos that because people who were involved in trafficking operated secretly, it had been difficult to eradicate it.

She said some state governments had even denied the existence of such in their states.

“Some states do not want to be part of effort to eradicate trafficking of persons. Some tell us that they do not believe in it; they say it does not exist,” Umaru said.

She said WOTCLEF, established in 1999, had received and rehabilitated more than 600 victims of child labour and abuse.

“We are ready to receive more and will continue to create awareness. We have a programme in secondary schools called WOTCLEF and Trafficking Brigade to inform youths that trafficking is criminal,’’ she said.

Umaru said the foundation had contributed in reducing human trafficking by initiating a bill which led to the creation of the National Agency for Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons and Other Related Matters.

She noted that NAPTIP had prosecuted more than 140 traffickers since inception, and would continue to work towards the prosecution of more offenders.

via Punch