The Edo State Government has said it will continue to partner with relevant stakeholders to strengthen advocacy in order to check the incidence of illegal migration and human trafficking in the state.
Speaking after unveiling billboards in select parts of the state, Secretary, Edo State Taskforce Against Human Trafficking, Itohan Okungbowa, commended the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) for supporting the agency’s advocacy programmes aimed at sensitizing members of the public on the dangers of illegal migration.
She said members of the public can reach out to the agency to report suspected cases of human trafficking, adding “the taskforce is set up to fight against any form of slavery or trafficking in any guise.”
According to her, “the unveiling of the billboards, which is part of the advocacy work, is part of efforts at sensitizing members of the public on the activities of the state government in abolishing human trafficking. It is important for members of the public to also to know that migration is a right; nobody is stopping you from migration.
“If you must migrate, follow the due process; don’t enslave yourself to another person. Legal processes must be followed. Nobody will deprive you of your right.”
She further appealed to members of the public to refrain from using children for such illicit businesses.