THE Women Trafficking and Child Labour Eradication Foundation (WOTCLEF) has warned Nigerians to be extra- vigilant in detecting new tactics of  human traffickers in the country.

Mrs Imabong Sanusi, the Executive Director of WOTCLEF, gave the warning in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Abuja.

Sanusi said that in spite the awareness by WOTCLEF and other relevant Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs),  human traffickers were still succeeding with their victims.

She identified sports, education, and tourism among other channels being currently adopted by traffickers to lure their victims.

“It is regrettable that, inspite all the efforts by WOTCLEF and other relevant NGOs in the areas of awareness creation and sensitisation, some Nigerians still fall victims of human trafficking.

“This is because, apart from the gullibility of some people, the traffickers now upgrade their criminal act in order to make it difficult for them to be detected.

“Trafficking now comes in varied forms, like education trafficking, tourism trafficking, medical trafficking, sports trafficking, and several others, just to confuse their victims.

“Nevertheless, we have determined to continue to create awareness and sensitisation about the different shades of the scourge, to bring it to the fore and to reduce its negative impacts on our societies,’’ she said.

Sanusi said it was normal for human beings to migrate, but warned them to ensure that such migrations were lawful.

“Migration makes sense and good when it is regular, meanwhile, if it entails going through the Sahara desert and the Atlantic Ocean, it becomes irregular migration and should raise suspicion.

“Most victims of human trafficking usually set out for Europe, but when the coast is not clear, they become trapped and stranded in African countries like Libya, Mali and Burkina Faso.

“Human trafficking and irregular migration go together,’’ she said.

She said that the foundation was operating  an open shelter where victims of human trafficking were received and rehabilitated.

“WOTCLEF has an open shelter in Abuja where victims of human trafficking are received and rehabilitated.

“We have what we call the “Four Rs,’’ which stand for Rescue, Receive, Rehabilitate and Reintegrate victims into society,’’ Sanusi said.

She said that WOTCLEF had empowered and reintegrated more than 10,000 victims since inception in 1999.

“Since inception in October 1999, WOTCLEF has been able to empower and reintegrated 10, 600 victims into the society,” Sanusi said. (NAN)

– Mar. 13, 2019 @ 12:35 GMT |