The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons, (NAPTIP) has expressed worry over emerging form of human trafficking going on in the state.
The State Commander of NAPTIP, Ibadin Judith-Chukwu, during a sensitization campaign, disclosed that some young people now live together with mutual consent just for baby production.
She expressed indignation that human trafficking has taken an unprecedented dimension, unthinkable many years ago.
According to her, some youths are now coming together as married couples, just to produce children for sale.
“We see situation where maybe a girl gets pregnant, and somebody comes with a marriage offer to marry the girl.
“When a girl gets pregnant and gives birth, without her knowledge or consent, the boy takes the baby and sells.
Judith-Chukwu explained that the sale of babies is more prevalent in rural communities calling for massive enlightenment especially for residents in remote rural communities.
“I can say that NAPTIP has done fairly well by creating state task forces. And these task forces are tackling peculiar crimes around human trafficking in each state.
“The task force is there and getting equipped to tackle the case as it concerns Anambra State.
“After its establishment by NAPTIP in 2020, the task force has drawn activities like public sensitization to get the people aware of the trends of human trafficking and the patterns of human trafficking.
The NAPTIP Commander said the agency and the task force are resolve to be ahead of the traffickers in their unwholesome antics against unsuspecting Nigerians.
She called on influential people such as traditional and religious leaders to key into the fight against human trafficking which she described as an organized crime.
“We are sensitizing critical stakeholders like the sister law enforcement agencies, the religious bodies and the community groups so that the message can penetrate the nooks and crannies.
“We are also anticipating the August meeting, which is a good time to carry out intensive sensitization,” she concluded.
