By David Lawani
The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management, Sadiya Umar Farouq has stated that 250 people have been incarcerated over offenses for human trafficking and other related crimes, saying that until they have been fully incarcerated before their identity can be disclosed.

Farouq who was represented by Hajara A.T. Ahmed in a remark during the Roost Foundation Town Hall held at the Ladi Kwalu Hall of Sheraton and Towers Hotel on the prevention of Human trafficking, Irregular Migration, Sexual and Gender-Based Violence said she cannot disclose what the federal government is presently doing noting that the crime is a multi-billion dollar industry and it requires holistic confrontation.

The Town Hall interactive session which had participants from different works of life with the theme: “Call To Action, The Time Starts Now”, commended the organizer of the town hall, Dame Julie Okah-Donli noting that the only way to fight the menace is adopting effective sensitization because only when people are aware that the scourge can be fought to a standstill.

Her words: “Well, we have incarcerated 250 people. And for private reasons, we can speak but can disclose their positions until they are fully incarcerated. As I said, disclosure. We cannot disclose what the federal government is presently working on. And it is a priority for the present administration to tackle the issue. It is very complex and high profile. It is a multi-billion dollar industry. We need careful investigation. We are on them. We promise all Nigerians and victims that we are working tirelessly.

“The major thing is sensitization and making people aware of the vices of trafficking. We know that trafficking is done even without the traffickers knowing that they are being trafficked. And it is proactive and strategic now rather than adopting a reactive method. We don’t want the situation to go worst and far before we detect them. So, we have to put in place strategies and policies that will help to curb right from inception so that it doesn’t get to escalating areas that the government won’t be able to control”, she said.

The Minister maintained that since the creation of the Ministry, it has as a priority major strategies in combating Human trafficking in the country. ” And as you all know, we partner with international and local organizations with regards to human trafficking. It is a very serious issue for the Ministry to be engaged at all levels; both states and federal, in the policies concerning human trafficking as it bothers on many social issues.

“The Agenda of President Muhammadu Buhari is to lift 100 million people out of poverty in the next 10 years. This is a critical part and a strategy that has to do with the ambitious idea of the President. The Ministry is prioritizing human trafficking in all spheres.

“And we know that the children are also affected, women and in most cases apart from the young women, we also have men who are also been trafficked. Trafficking is a very complex issue and we must adopt an approach that can be harnessed positively”, she noted.

Earlier, Dame Julie Okah-Donli. – Founder/Executive Chairman, Roost Foundation -Ch and Former Director-General, NAPTIP in her speech said the Child Rights Act should be amended to include bullying as a crime noting that the Dowen College students arrested should be punished, “absolutely. They should be punished”.
According to her: ” I will advocate that the child rights act should be amended to include bullying as a crime against humanity. It is even caused by the home. It may be even as a result of the parents bullying the children unknowingly.

“And so, when you find a bully, you first find out why the child is a bully because it is a mental problem. You have to offer the child psycho-socio support. Some children are naturally bullish. They derive pleasure in showing strength. So we should not excuse it. It cannot be excused. Just like rape. People keep giving excuses that she was not well dressed. Why did she do this? It is the same thing.

“Bullying in schools has been something that has been on forever. But it has also suffered this culture of silence. A lot of people don’t talk about it. Back in the day, when children talk about it they are seen as a weakling. The parents will reject it and say they went through it. You are a weakling.

“You are a boy you must fight back and all of that. We need to change this narrative. We need to let people know that bullying is unacceptable and it is a violent crime against persons and it must not be tolerated”, she said.
She adds that the government has been working for the past 10 to 20 years with development partners to bring back those who want to return to Nigeria. She said those who genuinely want to come back should go through the protocol in the embassies.

“For the past 10 to 20 years, the government has been working with international development agencies to bring back Nigerians who want to come back home.

” It is not just victims of trafficking nor survivors of Irregular migration. Actually, the government has been bringing back a lot of Nigerians who are desirous of coming back. Yes, there is a protocol for anyone who wants to come should go through the embassy wherever they are and the government will bring them back”, she stated.

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Also, the Policy House Country home representative in Nigeria, Taiwo Akerele during his presentation calls on the Federal Government to look into the condition of out-of-school children who are also major victims of this Irregular migration across borders for slavery and other forms of inhuman dehumanization.

His words: ” The issue of out-of-school children and gender-based violence remains a threat to Nigeria and West Africa. The numbers of these out-of-school children have grown astronomically in the last four years. And reliable data have shown that no effort is in place to rescue the situation.

“The numbers of these out-of-school children have grown astronomically in the last four years. And reliable data have shown that no effort is in place to rescue the situation. We are glad to partner with Roost Foundation in tackling this challenge head-on with other relevant agencies”, Akerele noted.