The Director General, National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), Mrs Dame Okah-Donli, says 1,052 indigenes of Oyo State have been rescued from human traffickers by the agency.
Okah-Donli disclosed this on Wednesday, during an advocacy visit to the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Saliu Adetunji in his Palace in Ibadan.
The DG said that Oyo Sate was endemic for trafficking of adults and children, domestic servitude and sexual exploitation in brothels.
“From 2004 to July this year, a total of 1,052 indigenes of Oyo State have been rescued by NAPTIP, consisting of 782 females and 270 males.
“Those rescued are mostly from Oyo town, Saki, Kishi, Iseyin and Ibadan.
“These victims were subjected to child labour, domestic servitude and sexual exploitation.”
The DG said that NAPTIP currently embarked on a project that would improve the skills and knowledge of state and non-state institutions, to reduce and prevent human trafficking in Nigeria.
Okah-Donli further said that the agency would also strengthen the capacity of state and non-state institutions to assist, support and protect victims of trafficking.
She sought the partnership of traditional rulers to carry out a nationwide sensitisation against violation of women, girls and children’s right through grassroots sensitisation.
“We seek your collaboration in the mobilisation of paramount rulers and the entire traditional institution in the state towards massive anti-human trafficking action and behavioral change communication.
” There is need for the mobilisation of Oyo State indigenes to be vigilant concerning trafficking of young women to the Middle East, for domestic work as well as child labour.”
In his remark, the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Saliu Adetunji thanked NAPTIP for its interest in protecting the dignity of human beings.
Adetunji, who responded through his spokesman, Mr Adeola Oloko, said people had taken the lives of children and others for granted.
“If you know you cannot take care of these children why bring them into the world and send these little children to the Middle East all because of domestic work.
“I feel sorry for them because they are young and vulnerable and even ashamed that Oyo State is part of it, until recently, I don’t know that our figure is as high as 1,052.
“It is a collective responsibility of all to fight this course to a stand still and ensure that non of our children is ferried across the country without their permission.”
According to him, for anyone to want to travel to any country, it is assumed that such a person has to be of age, be able to decide what to do over there and not to be abused, raped and killed.
The monarch said that the entire Ibadan land is with NAPTIP in the battle to fight trafficking to stand still.
