Stakeholders Seek Stronger Action Against Trafficking, Violence
… Identitify Issues Fueling Trafficking
Date: 27 June, 2026
By Jane Daniel
Enugu – Stakeholders have called for stronger collaboration among government agencies, traditional institutions, religious bodies and communities to tackle trafficking in persons (TIP) and violence against persons (VAP) in Enugu State.
The call was contained in a communiqué issued at the end of a four-day Joint Community Sensitisation and Advocacy Outreach on Friday organised by the International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD), the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) and the Divine Era Development and Social Rights Initiative (DEDASRI) in Enugu.
Participants identified “poverty, unemployment, peer pressure and deceptive promises of jobs, education and migration” as major drivers of human trafficking, warning that school dropouts and vulnerable children remain at greater risk of exploitation.
They also observed that “fear, stigma and poor knowledge of reporting channels” continue to prevent victims and witnesses from reporting cases, while harmful cultural practices and the collapse of community background checks have worsened the situation.
The stakeholders resolved to intensify community and church awareness campaigns, strengthen collaboration with law enforcement agencies and encourage parents, teachers and caregivers to promptly report suspected cases of abuse and trafficking.
They further called for “the effective implementation of the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Law and the Trafficking in Persons Act,” as well as continuous training for magistrates and judicial officers handling such cases.
Participants also advocated the establishment of anti-trafficking and violence against persons clubs in tertiary institutions across Enugu State and urged lawmakers to support efforts aimed at strengthening existing laws.
They acknowledged the critical role of women in protecting children and vulnerable persons through awareness creation, mentorship, early identification of abuse and support for survivors.
The communiqué reaffirmed the participants’ commitment to “prevent trafficking and violence through sustained community engagement, timely reporting and stronger partnerships,” while commending ICMPD, NAPTIP and DEDASRI for spearheading the initiative.
