Trafficking in persons is a grievous crime against humanity – Otti’s wife
Mrs. Priscilla Otti, the wife of the Abia governor, has described trafficking in persons as a grave crime against humanity “that completely violates human rights law”.
Mrs. Otti said this on Friday during a 1.5-km walk organised by the state government as part of activities lined upto commemorate the 2023 World Day Against Trafficking in Persons, with the theme “Reach every victim of Trafficking, Leave no one behind”, in Umuahia.
Supreme reports that the World Day Against Trafficking in Persons is an annual event that is held on July 30 to raise awareness and strengthen the campaign on the need to stop trafficking in persons.
The governor’s wife, who was represented by Mrs. Chinyere Onyeukwu, said that trafficking in persons poses a serious threat to safety, security, life, and the rule of law in society.
“We will deploy every resource at our disposal to intensify the fight against trafficking in persons in Abia.
“We have embarked on a serious campaign to show that trafficking in persons will not be tolerated in Abia,” Otti said.
In her speech, Mr. Blessing Felix, the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Poverty Reduction, said that trafficking in persons could be best described as an affront to humanity.
Felix said that “it is our collective responsibility to raise our voices and take action against this great injustice”.
The Abia Director of the National Orientation Agency, Mrs. Regina Iroha, said that public education was a good starting point in the move to stop all forms of human trafficking.
Iroha called on the relevant agencies to take the campaign to the local communities, adding that most victims of trafficking were people living in rural areas.
In a remark, Mrs. Ifeoma Thomas, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Vulnerable Groups and Poverty Reduction, said that the fight against trafficking in persons must be won at all costs.
Thomas said that a collaborative effort between the government and members of society would greatly increase the successes recorded in the fight against human trafficking.
She urged the people of Abia not to hesitate to report any case of trafficking in persons around their neighbourhood, adding that appropriate actions would be taken.
The Special Adviser to the Governor on Public Communication, Mr. Dodo Okafor, said that trafficking in persons remains a serious social ill and that all hands must be on deck to eradicate the ill to save the vulnerable from falling victim.
Okafor urged the people of Abia to align with the programmes and policies of the government focused on eradicating human trafficking in Abia.
Also, Mr. Max Anokwuru, the Public Relations Officer of A and O Caritas Foundation, an NGO, expressed the readiness of the organisation to partner with the government in eradicating trafficking in persons in the state.
Anokwuru urged the people of Abia to join in the campaign against trafficking in persons, in order to bring the menace to a conclusive end in the state.
