Group educates Enugu traders about the hazards of human trafficking and organ harvesting

Devatop Centre for Africa Development (DCAD), an NGO, has educated traders in Enugu about the perils of human trafficking, organ harvesting, and the importance of reporting occurrences of human trafficking.

Members of the group carried placards with the inscriptions “No more silence on human trafficking,” “If you see human trafficking, Talkam,” and others at Kenyatta Market in Enugu.

Kingsley Ozo, the DCAD Zonal Coordinator who organised the campaign, criticised the country’s recurring issues of human trafficking and organ harvesting.

He informed the traders that the purpose of the campaign inside the market was to educate members of the public, particularly traders, about the dangers of human trafficking and organ harvesting.

Ozo stated that DCAD and its partners had carried the same programme to Enugu State communities such as Nkanu, Obeleagu Umuna, and Enugu metropolis.

According to him, the scheme is supported by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and implemented in Nigeria by DCAD under Palladium, a major implementer of international development programmes.

The zonal coordinator urged the traders not to remain silent if they witnessed any cases of human trafficking or organ harvesting in the area, pushing them to speak up in order to put a stop to the scourge.

“We have a referral centre where victims are counselled; you should report cases of trafficking and organ harvesting to the appropriate authority so that appropriate action can be taken,” he urged.

He also asked parents and guardians to refrain from delivering their children to persons for child labour or organ harvesting, stressing that most people were trafficked under the pretence of providing assistance to their family.

Responding. Mr Chinwuba Igwesi, Chairman of Kenyatta Market Association, praised the organisation for the campaign and emphasised that security officials should step up their efforts to combat kidnapping and human trafficking.

The chairman, who lamented increased incidences of human trafficking, kidnapping, organ harvesting, and banditry in Nigeria, said it could not be ignored.

He questioned why some people had turned to kidnapping and trafficking, noting that Nigeria had not previously been known for such practises.

“I don’t understand why, when you sent someone to school or somewhere, you wouldn’t rest until the person returned,” he added, pleading for God’s help.

He recommended parents and guardians to keep their children together, to pray for them constantly, and to keep them active.

“Going outside and playing in any way does not help now, and every parent should keep an eye on their children,” he added. (NAN)