NIDO Africa Sensitizes Benue Students on Dangers of Human Trafficking, Drug Abuse

From Dooshima Terkura, Makurdi

The Nigerians in Diaspora Organization, NIDO, Africa has sensitized Benue students on the dangers of human trafficking and drug abuse.

The Continental Chairman, NIDO Africa, Prof. Jude Osakwe, who addressed the students, at Padopas Harmony Secondary School, Makurdi, said they were at the School to talk to the children on the evils of child trafficking and drug abuse because the menace was eating deep into the fabric of our nation.

Osakee disclosed that over 2,000 Nigerian children, boys and girls, have been rescued from Ghana alone in the last one year while within the space of two years, close to 3,000 Nigerian children, in the ages of 10 and 15 years, were rescued across the West African sub-region.

He narrated that “We had an incident where someone trafficked 15 persons from Nigeria to Ghana and two of the victims were his own blood sisters. Fortunately we rescued them and arrested him. He has been sentence to 15 years imprisonment in Ghana and after serving his term in prison he would pay compensation to each of the children he trafficked. He is from Nigeria and the kids are Nigerians.

“Children being taken out of the country, some being told that they are being taken for greener pasture but the girls end up in prostitution and the boys are taken for forced labour. Some are also taken to have their organs harvested.

“So we are trying to pass an awareness because it is good for us to start from the grassroots to tell the children and their parents what this menace is all about so that they will know how to guide their children from falling victims and the children will also be aware of the dangers of falling into the trap and ensure they avoid anyone that come to deceive them.”

The organization, at the event, equiped the students with flyers and note books with covers bearing messages on the evils of trafficking and drug abuse noting that “This is so that anytime a child picks the book to use and opens it, he or she will read what is written in it about the dangers of human trafficking and drug abuse.”

The Zonal Commander of
National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons, (NAPTIP), Makurdi Zonal Command, Mrs. Gloria Bai, represented by the Command’s Head of Public Enlightenment, Torkwase Yaji, described the programme is laudable saying creating awareness for young persons would save them from the inhuman act.

He noted that human trafficking is a grave human right violation and their is every need to join hands together to put an end to the exploitation of children.

She said “Right now our children are trapped in Ivory Coast, Benin, Ghana, all over. So coming to create awareness about the dangers of trafficking is very important because they are there in Diaspora and they will tell us the real stories.”

Mrs Bai urging them to sustain the campaign, report all cases to Nigerinas in Diaspoara so that they will refer to NAPTIP vowing that they will go after the traffickers and also rescue the survivors.

The Vice Principal Academics of the school, Mrs. Catherine Achagh appreciated NIDO Africa for visiting saying human trafficking was affecting their communities and the children need the information.

The teacher in charge of the anti human trafficking project of the school, Lynda Bem said the sensitization targeting the students was a great idea and timely because “we are in an era where lots of children are being trafficked out of the country with the impression that they would be given good jobs and they end up in very terrible dehumanising situation.”

She also appreciated NIDO Africa for the books saying they will help the students be fully conscious of the dangers of humans trafficking and drug abuse.

An SS3 student, Samuel Adikpe commended NIDO Africa for opening their eyes to the dangers of human trafficking and drug abuse urging the organization to sustain the campaign in the state.

He said the message was an eye opener and he had learnt among others to always inform his parents or guidian of his whereabout or wherever one is moving to at every point in time. “Today we have been told how these traffickers use to operate and why we must be vigilant and ensure we do not fall into the hands of the masterminds.”

Also an SS1 student, Priscillia Terna could not hide her excitement, as she said she has learnt about the consequences of human trafficking and drug abuse and how to avoid being a victim.

“It an eye opener for me and my fellow students because they have opened our eye to what we didn’t know about the implications of human trafficking and drug abuse to the wellbeing of growing children like us.

“We are very grateful for this opportunity presented to us by NIDO Africa to be part of this sensitisation. It will permanently remain in our memories from now on so that we do not become victims. We will also take the message to our homes, neighbourhoods and community in order to ensure that the message gets to the people.

“From what we have learnt, no one will come and deceive us in the name of taking us overseas, we now know better and thanks to NIDO.”

Highpoint of the event was the talk and sensitisation of the students on the dangers of trafficking and drug abuse by Prof. Osakwe and his team.

Text books that exposed the dangers of trafficking and drug abuse were distributed to the students who were also gifted customised note books that contain important messages on the dangers of trafficking and drug abuse.