The anti-human trafficking team in the Nigerian Region organized two days workshop for the sisters in the Region. The purpose was to equip the sisters with more knowledge and skills in our commitment in combating human trafficking in our different ministries and environment.
The workshop took place in two locations:
St. Anne’s convent, Satellite town, Lagos for the communities in the Lagos area and Ibadan. This was facilitated by NAPTIP (National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons) officials from the Lagos Zonal command. We are grateful to the Lagos Zonal commander Mrs. Kehinde Akomolafe. Five NAPTIP staff were in attendance while thirteen sisters participated.
The second location was in Our Lady Queen of Nigeria convent, Okpara Inland for the Niger Delta Region of Warri, Port Harcourt and Bomadi communities. This was facilitated by the NAPTIP officials from the Benin Zonal command and was led by the Zonal commander Barr. Nduka Nwanene. The workshop was educative and enlightening. Sixteen sisters of Charity from the various communities participated. Some students and staff of Mary Aikenhead centre as well two other young ladies took part in it. We are grateful to Sr. Micheline our Regional Leader for making it possible.
In Nigeria, despite the numerous NGO’s involved in anti-human trafficking campaign and sensitization programs, young people are still lured into trafficking, though the numbers seemed to be dropping. The present situation in Nigeria is not helping matters. Recently one of our ex students of Mary Aikenhead centre was lured to Lagos on her way out but she escaped through the back fence with another girl from where they were locked up. The trafficker used a new tactic. The madam invited her for a shopping trip, took her into her vehicle with tinted windows where she met other five girls and drove them to Lagos. These two girls were lucky to have escaped but the fate of the others were unknown. She has no idea of where they were kept in Lagos nor the identity of the madam.
We will not relent in our effort in this campaign against human trafficking and restoration of the dignity of the human person.
Sr. Justina Nelson RSC
