THE International Organisation for Migration (IOM) says enactment of stiffer sanctions against human trafficking will permanently address the scourge in Nigeria.

Ms Florence Kim, the West/Central Africa Communication Officer of the organisation, made the assertion on Wednesday in Enugu, in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria ( (NAN).

Kim spoke on the sideline of a media dialogue organised by IOM for Nigerian editors and heads of media organisations.

She said that it was sad that in spite of efforts by the government through relevant stakeholders including the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), the ill had persisted.

She described human trafficking as an increasing trans-national crime and the worst form of crime against humanity which must be stamped out.

“We need to arrest and prosecute those traffickers that are exploiting the vulnerable. “We are not doing enough until there are no more victims of human trafficking,” she said.

Kim said that though IOM was not against migration, “ but it is extremely risky to travel as an irregular migrant.

“Human trafficking is extremely lucrative and that is why people are engaged in it. “Thousands of people are trafficked yearly and we need to understand how serious the problem is.

“The victims fall into sexual exploitation,” she said.

She said that no fewer than 50,000 irregular migrants and victims of human trafficking had been assisted by IOM to return to their respective countries within the West African sub-region since 2007.

“In Nigeria, we are helping the government to manage all migration flows from parts of the world and to bring existence to the extremely vulnerable people,” she said.

The communication officer said that the task of curbing human trafficking needed a collaborative effort by stakeholders, adding that the media was very strategic in the process.

Kim urged the government to empower NAPTIP with the relevant tools to be able to achieve its mandate.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that IOM was formed 70 years ago to help and resettle Europeans that flee after the Second World War.

The organisation currently has its presence in over 100 countries. (NAN)

– Apr. 3, 2019 @ 13:25 GMT |