NGO hits Lagos streets with anti-human trafficking campaign

A Lagos-based non-profit organization Kick Against Human Trafficking and Human Rights Abuse Foundation ( KAHTHRAF) yesterday took to major Lagos streets in the state to create awareness on the dangers of human trafficking and plights of rescued survivors.

President of KAHTHAF, Barr. Ojay Akinwale who led the campaign train, which included rescued survivors, officials of the National Agency For the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons ( NAPTIP) and others, said all hands must be on deck to fight the menace of human trafficking and plights of rescued survivors.

He said the theme of the campaign was to prevail on the government and relevant agencies to identify human trafficking routes and block them.

According to Akinwale, “The focus of our campaign is to prevail on the government and relevant agencies to go beyond arrest and prosecution of human traffickers, but for them also to block all routes the traffickers are using. There are identified routes in the northern part of the country where these youths are made to engage in the perilous journey. We are saying that the government should rescue people before they go on this dangerous voyage by blocking the routes. We are targeting 50,000 youths as we feel preventing them from being trafficked will go a long way in reducing cases of human trafficking.”

The KAHTHRAF members on the street campaigning against human trafficking The Zonal Commander of NAPTIP in Lagos, Mr Daniel Atokolo, while receiving the campaign train in his office said the agency was not resting in the fight against human trafficking.

He added: “We are identifying the routes, but it will interest you that Nigeria is a source, transit and destination country and this is due to our porous borders. We are working with the relevant agencies and we urge Nigerians with relevant information to pass it across to us.

“Last year, we had 13 convictions. In one month, we had seven convictions.” The campaign train stopped at the campaign office of the All Progress Congress’ gubernatorial candidate, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu. When the campaign train visited the Lagos State police command, the Commissioner of Police, Mr Edgal Imohimi was not around to receive the campaigners but the spokesperson for the command, CSP Chike Otti, said the police in the state would give support to stop human trafficking.