From Our Correspondent in Makurdi
The Chairman, Otukpo Local Government Council, Dr Wilson Eche, assured that Gov. Hyacinth Alia's administration had put measures in place to curb trafficking in persons.
Eche disclosed this during a stakeholders town hall meeting organized by Countering Trafficking in Person (CTIP) Commission Cluster of the USAID funded SCALE Project implemented by Palladium for people of the Benue South Senatorial District in Otukpo.
Represented by his deputy, Mr Ejembi Odeh, Eche reiterated that the governor was working assiduously to end the menace, stressing that Gov. Alia was so passionate to nip the ugly trend in the bud.
He further pledged to collaborate with his council members to sustain the sensitization the people in order to permanently bring it to an end.
The Coordinator, Gender and Environmental Risk Reduction Initiative (GERI), Mrs Elizabeth Jeiyol, expressed gratitude to the stakeholders and participants for their active participation and urged the educational sector to be firm in playing her role in awareness creation on human trafficking.
Jeiyol said that there was need to create a day-to-day awareness creation, emphasizing that strong voices were needed to be heard by the government so as to hasten the establishment of CTIP commission in Benue.
She disclosed that they were worried by the spate of incidences of human trafficking in the state, hence the organization of the town hall meeting to sensitize the public and stem the tide of the ugly development.
She further disclosed that the cluster was anchored by Adinya Arise Foundation (AAF) and has five cluster members made up of GERI, OSA Foundation, ECJP, NUJ and JDPC Ibadan ArchDiocese.
She stated that Adinya Arise Foundation was implementing the "Strengthening Civic Advocacy and Local Engagement" (SCALE project) in Oyo, Benue and Taraba States with funding support from USAID through the Palladium.
"The project which aimed at establishing Countering Trafficking in Persons (CTIP) Commission in target states was to be implemented through cluster models.
"The meeting was also to identify gaps in existing strategies and explore innovative solutions to prevent and combat human trafficking, foster stronger partnerships and coordination among stakeholders to enhance the effectiveness of collective efforts.
"Also, to raise awareness on the dangers of human trafficking as well as stimulate local agitations for the establishment of a Countering Trafficking in Persons (CTIP) Commission in the State," Jeiyol said.
Meanwhile, the Och'Otukpo Dr John Eimonye commended the CTIP Commission Cluster through GERI for coming to Zone 'C' to create awareness and sensitize the people on the ills and dangers of human trafficking and child labour.
Eimonye also assured that traditionally, they would look at strengthening laws that would prevent, prosecute perpetrators and support survivors of human trafficking.
Some religious leaders, Alhaji Garba Grema of the Muslim community and Pastor Joseph Okoh, frowned at the incidences of trafficking in the state particularly in Zone C and promised to take the awareness to their congregations.
The Leader of Catholic Women Organization (CWO), Mrs Agnes Okpe, DSP Fidelia Peter, representative of Persons With Disabilities (PWDs), Mary Ejeh and Agboko Francis, Chairman Umogidi Crisis Management Committee (IDP camp), Mr Otache Ajene and the youth leader Entekpa IDP, Mr Adakole Inalegwu Daniel, all commended GERI for the meeting describing it as a wake up call.
The Secretary of National Union of Road Transport Workers, (NURTW), Mr Ismaila Abiodun, expressed concerns at the rate at which children flood the parks and accompanied by adults who claimed to be their parents or guardians but were not.
He applauded the awareness and sensitization forum on human trafficking and further assured GERI that the union would be more vigilant on commuters who come to send children unaccompanied by guardians and promised to report suspicious travellers.
