In a bold step to confront the growing menace of human trafficking, the Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), Ebonyi State Chapter, in collaboration with key stakeholders, marked the 2025 World Day Against Trafficking in Persons with a high-impact public sensitisation campaign on Wednesday, July 30.
The event, held at the bustling Ahia Ohuru market and motor park in Abakaliki, drew crowds and echoed with a resounding message: “Ebonyi is no longer a hunting ground for traffickers.”
Joining NAWOJ were critical partners including the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), Civil Society Organisation Network on Migration and Development (CSOnetMED), the Ebonyi Gender-Based Violence Taskforce, Network Against Child Trafficking, Abuse and Labour (NACTAL), the Nigeria Conference of Women Religious Against Human Trafficking, Gracefield Development Initiative of Nigeria (GDIN), and others.
Representing NAWOJ, Susan Nwannediuto, a senior information officer at the Ministry of Skills Development and Job Creation, urged authorities to invest in long-term reintegration for survivors and prioritize community-based awareness.
“As women journalists, we must break the silence, protect the vulnerable, and amplify voices that are often ignored,” she declared.
Spokespersons from partner agencies decried the rising sophistication of trafficking cartels, citing poverty, insecurity, and lack of education as root causes. CSOnetMED’s State Coordinator, Goodness Mgbaja, described trafficking as an “evolving organised crime” and warned that communal crises often serve as fertile ground for traffickers.
NACTAL’s Lorieth Nwafor echoed the need for vigilance in rural communities, where subtle forms of exploitation frequently go unreported. She called for parents, traditional rulers, and local institutions to embrace prevention strategies at the grassroots.
Speaking on this year’s global theme, “Human Trafficking is Organised Crime – End the Exploitation,” Mrs. Anne Nwabugwu of NAPTIP reaffirmed the agency’s resolve to clamp down on trafficking rings, adding that its strategies are constantly evolving in response to new tactics by traffickers.
Faith-based leaders including Rev. Sister Georgina Pemi and Sister Susan Ezeh called for deeper integration of anti-trafficking education into religious and school systems, emphasizing the need to build resilience among children.
Sister Pemi put it plainly: “We are telling Ebonyi people today - enough is enough. No more silence, no more victims.”
The campaign closed with strong calls for government-backed protection programs, survivor rehabilitation, and community vigilance to build a trafficking-resistant society in Ebonyi and beyond.
