Enugu Govt Calls For End To Human Trafficking, Slavery

The state Commissioner of Children, Gender Affairs and Social Development, Mrs Ngozi Enih, stated this during a solidarity rally held in Enugu to mark the World Day Against Trafficking in Persons.

The Enugu State government, Friday, called for sustained fight against the scourge of human trafficking and modern-day slavery.

Addressing the audience, including government officials, civil society actors, security agencies, students, and community leaders, Mrs Enih said that the time had come for “concerted, transnational efforts to dismantle the networks of exploitation that thrive on human misery”.

According to her, “Today, on World Day Against Trafficking in Persons, we stand in solidarity with victims of human trafficking. This crime steals dignity, freedom, and future, especially from women and children. As we raise our voices, let’s commit to stronger protection, justice for survivors, and a society where no one is left behind.”

Mrs Enih described human trafficking as a form of modern-day slavery “that strips victims of their basic rights and dehumanises them for profit”.

According to her, the state government has a zero-tolerance policy for all forms of slavery, abuse, and violence that compromise human dignity. She reiterated the government’s resolve to continue working closely with the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) and other partners to bring offenders to justice.

The commissioner extended calls to religious leaders, traditional rulers, civil society organisations, and local communities to intensify awareness and grass-roots mobilisation against trafficking networks.

She said ending human trafficking required more than institutional action: “It demands a unified front by all sectors of society to prevent the recruitment, transportation, and exploitation of vulnerable individuals, especially underage girls and impoverished families.

“Every religious community, every palace, every classroom must become a fortress against trafficking. This is a fight for our humanity.”

Participants at the rally marched through the streets of Enugu with placards bearing messages like “Stop Human Trafficking Now”, “I Am Not For Sale”, and “Organ Harvesting is Human Trafficking”.

The theme of the 2025 campaign is “Human Trafficking is Organised Crime – End the Exploitation”.

Enugu Govt Calls For End To Human Trafficking, Slavery is first published on The Whistler Newspaper