Stakeholders in the fight against human trafficking on Friday called Ekiti State government to enact strong laws that will end the incessant menace and support the survivors.
They made the call in Ado-Ekiti at a one-day stakeholders conference on Human Trafficking organised by Emmanuel World Children Foundation in collaboration with National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons, NAPTIP, Ekiti Liaison Office.
The convener and founder of the foundation called on the state government to enact strong laws to deal with traffickers and also support the fallen victims.
He noted that the conference is to mobilise key actors at the state level to spread the message against the dangers of human trafficking.
According to him; “It will be a good thing for government to put a lot of measures in place to protect the citizens and prevent it further. The government need to put strong laws in Ekiti State that has to do with dealing with traffickers.
“The government should also support people that have fallen victim so that they won’t be re-trafficked again or become agents for traffickers as well.
“This conference has been a desired thing for three major objectives. One is to bring stakeholders together for them to know what are the true status of things with all these travel agencies and its arrangements so that they will not become victims. It’s a programme meant for preventive measures that we are putting in place in the foundation.
“The second objective is also to mobilise key actors at the state level for them to be able to come together and provide support to people that have fall victim of human trafficking and be a blessing to the survivors of human trafficking.
“The last objective is to give visibility to issues of human trafficking in Ekiti State because it’s becoming a rampant thing simply because the traffickers are leaving places like Edo State, Delta State and moving to neighbouring states like Ondo and Ekiti so that’s why its increasing here.”
The Ojurin of Ijurin Ekiti, Oba Afolabi Ajibola, urged the youths to desist from the ‘japa’ syndrome saying that there is dignity in labour if they invest in the country.
He said: “I’m happy this kind of programme is organised in Ekiti State to sensitise our youths in particular on the new phenomenon of japa syndrome. It is not all that glitters is gold.
“Many of our youths that are leaving the shores of the country get there rejoicing because it’s not what they think or their sponsors told them that they get there to meet.
“My advice to our youths is that they can become whatever they think they want to be in life. In Nigeria, if you work with your two hands, there is dignity in labour but there is no dignity in labour over there. Many get there and die in the process and it is not easy to come back.
“My advice to our youths is to remain in Nigeria and weather the storm. It is going to be better in Nigeria that we can be proud of.”
On his part, the NAPTIP state coordinator, Oladimeji Samson reiterated the commitment of the agency to continue to wage war against traffickers while commending the foundation for organising the conference.
Highlights of the conference is the donation of sewing machine to some survivors of human trafficking in the state.