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From Ighomuaye Lucky, Benin
Justice Development Peace and Caritas Initiatives (Uromi JDPCI) has called on the Edo State government to institutionalize the Local Response Units on human trafficking in the 18 local government areas that make up the state with the view to nipping the scourge of trafficking in the state.
The Executive Director of JDPCI, Rev Fr. Fidelis Arhedo made the appeal during a community sensitization and public awareness rally on trafficking in persons to commemorate the Feast of St. Josephine Bakhita, an annual event observed on February 8th as the International Day of Prayer and awareness against human trafficking.
The event which was carried out under the auspices of the SCALE Nigeria Project sponsored by USAID, brought together individuals of goodwill in solidarity to offer prayers for victims of human trafficking, elevate awareness about human trafficking, and deliberate on strategies to combat it effectively, particularly through the establishment of dedicated response units at the local government levels in the state.
Fr. Arhedo said the reason of having these units at the various local governments is not far-fetched because it is very close to the people and that the atrocities are usually high therein adding that the best way to also tackle it, is still through the local units.
Arhedo said the government should do the needful and yield to their demands.
He urged the state government to help activate the Victims of Trafficking Trust Fund and its Committee, which is aimed at ensuring effective and sustaining the empowerment of the victims of human trafficking in the state.
He said addressing the issues of human trafficking is a collective fight and that the JDPCI has been at the forefront and called for all and sundry to join in the fight so that issue of human trafficking can be a thing of the past in the state.
