Enugu: A non-governmental organisation, Youth Child Support Initiative (YCSI), in collaboration with the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), has called for an end to child trafficking. They made the call on Wednesday during a march against trafficking in Enugu.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the event, titled 'Anti Human Trafficking Awareness Campaign in commemoration of the 2025 World Day Against Trafficking', was carried out with other partners. The programme was funded by the Government of Netherlands and implemented by the International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD). The road walk, which commenced at Onu Asata area of Enugu State, concluded at the Ministry of Children, Gender Affairs and Social Development, Enugu.
Speaking during the exercise, the Executive Director of YCSI, Dr. Ijeoma Nnaji, stated that the walk aimed to raise awareness about trafficking in society and highlight prevention measures. Nnaji, who is also the South-East Zonal Coordinator for the Network of Civil Societies Against Child Trafficking, Abuse and Labour (NACTAL), emphasized that human trafficking is fundamentally about exploitation. She highlighted the ongoing issues of children, youths, and villages being exploited and discussed the importance of the World Day Against Human Trafficking in raising awareness about these issues.
Nnaji explained that NAPTIP organized the exercise through NACTAL with support from ICMPD. She called for collaborative efforts to combat the menace, underscoring that government alone could not address the issue.
Mr. Jonathan Ukpai, the NAPTIP Zonal Commander, noted the agency's commitment to investigating, arresting, and prosecuting individuals involved in human trafficking. Represented by Vivienne Ngene, Head of the Legal and Prosecution Unit, Ukpai shared that NAPTIP has recorded over 1,000 convictions nationwide since its inception in 2003. He reinforced the message that exploitation of children must end and highlighted the support from the Enugu State Government in the fight against human trafficking.
Receiving the participants at the Ministry of Gender Affairs, Mrs. Esther Mbah, the Director of Gender Affairs, praised the collaboration between the ministry and NAPTIP. Additionally, His Royal Majesty Samuel Asadu, Chairman of the Enugu State Traditional Rulers Council, described human trafficking as a tragedy and a crime against God and humanity.