The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Nentawe Yilwatda, has attributed the growing menace of human trafficking in Nigeria to years of economic decline and the collapse of industries across the country.Speaking at the public presentation of “Vicious Red Circle,” a novel authored by Ambassador Alex Ugochukwu Oriaku, Yilwatda lamented that worsening economic conditions have forced many Nigerians into desperate migration, leaving them vulnerable to exploitation.
Drawing from his experience as former Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Chair of the African-European Migration and Development Team, the APC Chairman called for inclusive, community-driven approaches to tackle the scourge.
He expressed optimism that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s ongoing economic reforms would help reposition the economy and create new opportunities for the country’s teeming youth population.“The fight against human trafficking must go beyond government agencies,” Yilwatda said. “It should involve families, schools, and communities.
We can stop this cycle. This book challenges us to do so.”It must not remain on your shelf — let it remain in your heart.
It reflects the pain of vulnerable Nigerians who fall prey to traffickers because of economic despair.”Yilwatda praised Ambassador Oriaku for using literature as a tool for social reform, describing *Vicious Red Circle* as “courage in ink.”In his remarks, Ambassador Oriaku described human trafficking as “a vicious, self-perpetuating cycle of exploitation, vulnerability, and silence.”
He said his book was not just a work of fiction, but a “clarion call to collective action.”“I didn’t write this book to add another statistic to the pile,” Oriaku said.
“I wrote it to build a bridge of empathy between the abstract horror of a global crisis and the beating heart of a single human story.”The novel follows the journey of Itohan, a young Nigerian girl trapped in modern slavery, whose struggle for freedom mirrors the plight of many real-life victims.Oriaku announced that proceeds from the book would support the Women Trafficking and Child Labour Eradication Foundation (WOTCLEF), founded by Mrs. Titi Abubakar.“Buying this book means three things,” he explained.
“You are bearing witness, starting a conversation, and taking tangible action.”Reviewing the book, Dr. Ike Neliaku, President of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), described it as “a masterpiece of conscience and courage.”“This book is not just fiction; it is art in the service of humanity,” Neliaku said, commending its vivid imagery and moral depth. “From Benin City to Paris, Oriaku weaves a tapestry of ambition, betrayal, and redemption. In 198 pages, he transforms fiction into advocacy.”Neliaku also applauded the author’s recognition of WOTCLEF’s contributions, noting that the foundation’s advocacy led to the establishment of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP).The event, attended by lawmakers, governors, diplomats, and human rights advocates, was described as a national call to conscience. As copies of the book sold out, one message echoed through the hall — human trafficking is not just a crime but a collective moral failure that demands urgent action.
Closing the ceremony, Oriaku urged Nigerians to unite in breaking the cycle of exploitation.“We cannot break this circle with indifference,” he said.
“But we can break it with awareness, compassion, and action. Let us form a new circle — a circle of hope.”Vicious Red Circle, published by Harmony Publishing, is now available nationwide, with proceeds supporting WOTCLEF’s anti-trafficking initiatives across Nigeria.
