The Dean, Post Graduate Studies, University of Lagos, Mr Chukwu Obinnaya, has said strengthening the borders and preventing illegal migration would reduce human trafficking.
He spoke at a workshop organised by the Centre for Correction and Human Development (CCHD) for pupils in Lagos.
Obinnaya asked international agencies involved in anti-human trafficking to do more evidence-based campaigns to target vulnerable groups, trafficking facilitators and decision makers.
“At the local level, greater efforts are needed to communicate from the perspective of the law, what constitutes trafficking and the consequences of being caught, to individuals and communities, who may come into contact with victims,” he said.
He said trafficking was a crime that transcends culture, class and geography, adding: “There is a significant level of internal trafficking in persons for prostitution, domestic servitude, forced labour, street begging, and organ harvesting. This scenario is most prevalent in major cities in Nigeria, where teenage girls as young as 12 or 13, are seen around brothels, working for some people.”
“Thousands of our youths, especially girls, are lured, abducted, tricked, drugged, beaten, starved, confined or otherwise snared every day, internally and internationally, to profit their handlers.”
He listed factors contributing to the menace as lack, unemployment, gender discrimination and violence against women. He described poverty as its major cause in Nigeria.
The group’s Executive Director, Mrs Obioma Agoziem, said the workshop was aimed at creating awareness on the menace among children.
