Barrister Fabian Awhen
The trafficking of persons for forced labour and sexual exploitation whichever way one looks at it is one of the most grievous violations of human rights.
Indeed, there is no gainsaying the fact that much as the United Nations feels concerned by this disturbing phenomenon, it violates the essence of human existence with the attendant evil of setting for the world a stage where our children are raised in fear.
These specters of human trafficking and sexual exploitation, forced labour, slavery and practices similar to slavery have tended to defy measures to control them and therefore brought human rights to a precarious situation.
For instance, it is reported that over a million children, women, and men are tricked into prostitution, domestic or farm labour, or debt bondage which is slavery plain and simple.
Cross River State and indeed Nigeria as a whole has not been spared the agony of human trafficking as nearly every passing day such ugly event is reported in one part of the country or the other or in our border towns.
Disturbed by the unwholesome specter of human trafficking in the State, the Cross River State Police Command not too long ago appealed to members of the public who have useful information on how to smash the syndicate not to hesitate to pass such information to the police.
The issue has equally recently received the attention of the Cross River State House of Assembly in which the intercepted victims were returned to their homes in the state
In all of these, it worries the human mind that slavery which was abolished over a century ago is facing a gradual resurgence in our society by criminal recidivists.
The question now is, are the brains behind these renewed cases of slavery or human trafficking impelled by the love of money or sadistic tendencies?
This question has become imperative because we find it difficult to explain why a man with a conscience in a society that guarantees human rights should subjugate a fellow human being to torture and slavery for the sake of money or malignant bitterness or ill will.
It is a trite fact that the dangers of materialism or the quest for money in our society are not new but the Bible has it that those who are determined to be rich at all cost even at the expense of their fellow human beings fall into temptation and a snare and many senseless and hurtful desires which plunge them into destruction and ruin.
And so shall be with those who have engaged themselves in this senseless act of human trafficking.
Nonetheless, we cannot afford to stab ourselves and our society all over with pain by allowing the wicked acts of human trafficking or slavery to thrive in our midst.
Therefore, whatever the case, the rising incidents of human trafficking and slavery in the State and the country as a whole put a burden on all of us to attack with ferocity practices that seek to denigrate the integrity and soul of our society.
What this entails is a sustained campaign and enlightenment against the wicked practice.
Finally, all culprits caught should be made to face the wrath of the law and their identities exposed on television, radio, and newspapers to deter potential ones from indulging in such condemnable acts.
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