The Women Trafficking and Child Labour Eradication Foundation (WOTCLEF) has advised Nigerians to be vigilant not to fall prey to human traffickers.
Mrs Imabong Sanusi, Executive Director of the Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), gave the advice in an interview on Friday in Abuja.
Sanusi said that human traffickers were human beings who lived with us and usually took advantage of lapses in parental care.
She said that the menace could only be curbed if made an issue for discussion and public enlightenment.
“Nigerians should be vigilant. They should say no to human trafficking.
“Traffickers are human beings; they live among us and take advantage of certain lapses in parental care to lure their victims.
“They make so much money by exploiting their victims and parents will do well by being vigilant and by taking good care of their wards,’’ Sanusi said.
The executive director said that victims of human trafficking were usually subjected to sexual exploitation, organ harvest and other despicable conditions.
She said that WOTCLEF planned to set up a large research centre for human trafficking and a vocational centre to help rehabilitate victims.
“Victims of human trafficking are usually subjected to harrowing experiences like organ harvest, sexual exploitation and other despicable conditions.
“At WOTCLEF, we presently accommodate victims of trafficking and we also send some to schools, while others are sent for vocational training.
“We are in collaboration with some schools and some vocational centres but we plan to set up a large resource and vocational centre to accommodate more victims.
“Presently we have 30 victims in our shelter; five of them are presently in universities but we intend to do more,’’ Sanusi said.
She urged Nigerians to always report suspected cases of child abuse and forced labour within their vicinity to the authorities for prompt action.
NAN reports that WOTCLEF was set up in 1999 by Mrs Titi Abubakar,wife of then Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, as a response to the menace of human trafficking in Nigeria. (NAN)
