The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) has highlighted that parents are significantly contributing to the problem of human trafficking in Oyo State.
Mr. Augustine Akanya, Head of the NAPTIP Oyo State Office, made this statement on Wednesday, August 21, in Ibadan during a town hall meeting organized by the Adinya Arise Foundation (AAF).
Akanya revealed that, in many cases of human trafficking he has dealt with in the state, parents, particularly mothers, are involved.
He noted: “Our role is to tackle human trafficking and violence against persons, both domestic and international. Almost 80 percent of cases of human trafficking that I have treated in the state involve parents. We have seen situations where a mother sends her child to Libya without the father’s knowledge.”
He further emphasized the significant role parents play in this issue, saying: “We should think about it. Let me talk about the Middle East, Lebanon, Oman, Libya. Do you know that Nigeria does not have an embassy in Oman? I don’t know what is wrong with us. Our life is even better than in some countries.”
Akanya urged parents to be more proactive and cautious, advising: “Parents are playing a major role in this problem. Let us ask questions and be concerned about ourselves. Many times, parents are the ones who help their children borrow money from financial institutions.”
He concluded by urging parents to prevent human trafficking, advising them to travel with necessary documents and emphasizing that “safe traveling is better.”
