The Benin Zonal Command, National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) on Saturday joined 52 other countries in the Global Walk for Freedom.
The 5km walk which was carried out in collaboration with the Peace, Health, Environment and Water (PHEW) Foundation, took place in Warri.
Mr Nduka Nwanwenne, the Zonal Commander of NAPTIP, Edo and Delta States, said that the annual event was a global one to create awareness on the ills of human trafficking.
He said that creating the awareness had become imperative as victims of human trafficking usually fell prey to human traffickers due to ignorance.
Nwanwenne said that the walk was meant to create awareness for youths and parents, so that they would not allow themselves to be deceived into consenting to exploitative business ventures and agreement.
In her remarks, Mrs Chigbo Queen, Chairperson, PHEW Foundation, said the body was the host of the Global Walk for Freedom in the country for 2018.
She said that the event was simultaneously held in Warri and Port Harcourt.
“The choice of both places was to create awareness on the ills of not just human trafficking but also travelling illegally, child abuse and the issue of baby factory, which were rampant in both states.
“It is on record that several persons from these areas had travelled through hostile countries where they were often used either as slaves or killed at the end,’’ Queen said.
She also advised that there was need to stop human trafficking.
The ‘Walk’ commenced at the popular Effurun round about and ended at the Airport Road, Warri. (NAN)
