Edo’s anti-human trafficking fight gets international attention

Efforts of the Edo State Government to bring an end to human trafficking and illegal migration in the state have caught the attention of international media organisations whose representatives were in Benin City, the state capital, for on-the-spot assessment of the government’s initiatives.

The international media include Cable News Network (CNN), the premier America news channel, which was in Benin City recently to follow the trail of human trafficking, dwelling on the role of local ‘juju’ men in propagating the illicit trade.

RTL Television, Germany’s largest private free-to-air broadcaster, by market share, is another news channel that has beamed its spotlight on Edo State, particularly on the governor’s effort at tackling human trafficking.

It distributes its content through cable and satellite and digital terrestrial platforms in densely populated areas.Also in the state is the prestigious Agence France Presse (AFP), an international news agency with headquarters in France, known for its objectivity and independence in news presentation and ranked the third largest news agency in the world.

The major attraction for these media companies is Obaseki’s resolve to deploy a mix of strategies to curtail the illicit trade in humans, ranging from engagement and an all-out war against human trafficking cartels in the state, with links in Europe and other parts of the world.

The international community’s interest is further driven by the benefits derivable from the Edo State government’s strategy, which will save their governments the troubles of dealing with a problem that has defied solutions across Europe and other parts of the world.