IMirror

Saturday 18 March 2017

Over 75, 000 Nigerian Girls Work as Prostitutes in Italy. Msgr. Aniagwu reveals

§ Charges FG to Prosecute Traffickers

By Debra Akudo

The hallowing experiences that victims of human trafficking undergo came under intense scrutiny recently as the justice, Development and Peace Commission of the Archdiocese of Lagos commemorated the feast of St Josephine Bakhita of Sudan.

Born on 8^th February 1869 in Sudan, Bakhita was kidnapped at the age of 6 and sold into slavery before becoming a Canossian nun. By virtue of her exemplary life, she was beatified on 17^th May 1992 by Pope John Paul 11 and later canonized on 1^st October 2000; becoming the patron saints of victims of human trafficking.

Painting a vivid picture of the rot brought about by human trafficking in our society, Rt. Rev. Msgr. John Aniagwu, parish Priest, St. Leo’s Catholic Church, Ikeja, in company of Fr. Raymond Anoliefo, Director, JDPC reveled to newsmen that over 75,000 Nigeria girls and ladies were currently working as prostitute in Italy alone.

“The number of Nigerians who are trafficked is so high that one is amazed that little or nothing is ever said about it either by the government or by the media. Imagine over 75,000 Nigerin girls working as prostitutes in one country alone!

What does the government know about those helpless Nigerian women? Does their plight mean anything to those in authority?”

According to Msgr Aniagwu who is also the Vicar-General of the Archdiocese of Lagos, many more Nigerian victims of human trafficking can also be found in other European and Asian countries, including the Middle East where they are subjected to the most inhuman treatment imaginable.

While highlighting the various efforts being made by the church over the years to fight the scourge, Msgr Aniagwu said the battle should be a collective one. He therefore called on government and relevant agencies to intensify effort towards curbing the atrocities being perpetuated by human traffickers and bringing them to book.

Several stakeholders who spoke at the media parley were unanimous in their views that lot more need to be done in addressing the prevalence of human trafficking in our society through more public enlightenment, coordinated family education, eradication of poverty by government and enforcing stringent punitive measure against traffickers, amongst others.