The right of individuals to freedom of movement and be in charge of their lives should be enjoyed without restrictions. People trying to infringe such rights should be dealt will accordingly.
The Auxiliary Catholic Bishop of Abuja, His Lordship Most Rev. Anselm Umoren, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Damian Dodo; and the Director of Public Enlightenment, National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), Arinze Orakwue, urged the National Assembly to provide the legislative framework for the courts to confiscate the assets of human traffickers.
The United Nations defines human trafficking as the abduction by force, fraud, or coercion of a person to engage in sex trade, or the harbouring, transportation, or obtaining of a person for labour service or organ removal.
Human trafficking can be divided into three major categories; sex trafficking, labour trafficking.
Another recent and controversial occurrence involving human trafficking is the abduction that resulted in the involuntary removal of bodily organs for transplant.
NAPTIP reported that human trafficking in Nigeria dates back to the 15th Century when European colonists started the Trans-Atlantic slave trade.
Human trafficking is largely caused by adverse circumstances in countries, including religious persecution, political dissension, lack of employment opportunities, poverty, war, and natural disasters, among others.
Thus, human trafficking is a global phenomenon, which is not limited to Nigeria. This points to the need for a more improved intervention by the government.
It is important that every citizen is given the necessary freedom and comfort possible. This will in a way reduce the chances of searching for greener pastures in foreign countries.
Human traffickers should not be treated lightly. Harsh punishment should be meted out.
Dodo who is the pioneer chairman of NAPTIP, said: “We need a legislative framework that will enable the courts not only to confiscate the proceeds of human trafficking, but to also begin to implement the concept of restorative justice.
“So, it is not enough for the government to confiscate the proceeds of human trafficking, the victims of this evil crime should benefit from the proceeds.
“The victims are not in any way helped by the conviction alone. The innocent victims who are exploited, abused and traumatised, whose lives were almost destroyed, should be in the position to receive some form of compensation from the proceeds.”
The International Labour Organisation (ILO) estimates that 40.3 million victims are trapped in modern-day slavery.
Among which 24.9 million were exploited for labour, while15.4 million were in forced marriage.
It also states that there are 5.4 victims of modern slavery for every 1,000 people in the world.
This phenomenon has inflicted excruciating pains, bitter memories and the untimely death of its victims.
Children and young adults are often sold or sent to areas with the promise of a better life but instead encounter various forms of exploitation.
Furthermore, Bishop Umoren said the inadequate funding of the government agency tasked with combating the menace meant that the country would continue to perform below expectations, particularly in the areas of prosecution and victim assistance.
He explained that human trafficking has gone beyond sexual exploitation and domestic servitude to organ harvesting.
According to him, there is an urgent need to strengthen alternative sources of funding for NAPTIP to enable it proactively deal with new challenges in the fight against human trafficking.
He said, “Nigerian government’s spending on anti-trafficking efforts through NAPTIP, though significant, has not been adequate to meet demand, especially for victim assistance services.
The government has a major role to play in ensuring that this menace is properly dealt with. The necessary funds and maximum support needed must be put in place to strengthen the fight against human trafficking.
In his speech, NAPTIP’s Director of Public Enlightenment, Arinze Orakwue, regretted that trafficking undermined the human capital development of the nation and promised that who take advantage of those who can’t fight back would be brought to justice.
Freedom of persons should be one of the nation’s topmost priorities. Strict penalty of offenders should be taken with a serious sense of responsibility as George Washington states, “Liberty, when it begins to take root, is a plant of rapid growth.”
Success James,
Department of Mass Communication,
University of Maiduguri, Maiduguri,
Borno state
