Raphael Ede Former United Nations Special Rapporteur on Trafficking in Persons, Prof Joy Ezeilo, has called on the federal, state and local governments to establish early warning mechanisms to tackle the pervasive issue of human trafficking within Nigeria and across the borders. The Executive Director, Women Aid Collective and a Senior Advocate of Nigeria made the appeal in a statement issued in Enugu on Saturday, in reaction to the trending video of teenage Nigerian girls, mainly from Imo state, trafficked for forced prostitution to neighbouring Ghana. According to her, establishing the early warning system will identify when girls disappear from school, fail to enrol in school, or live outside of family care.
She also urged the government to implement urgent measures to address the root causes and to reduce the vulnerabilities of young girls. Ezeilo said, “Watching the trending video of young Nigerian girls, mainly from Imo state, trafficked for forced prostitution to neighbouring Ghana is a stark reminder of the pervasive and cross-border issue of human trafficking or trafficking in persons.” She revealed that from 2008 to 2014 when she was UN Special Rapporteur on Trafficking in Persons, she encountered Nigerians trafficked or living as irregular migrants in nearly 100 countries she visited as part of her global assignment.
“In Africa, one in every four trafficked persons is Nigerian, making the country the most affected by trafficking. This issue remains prevalent .