Osunbor worried over trafficking of Edo ladies to Italy

Uchechukwu Olisah, Benin - 14.05.2008

Edo State governor, Professor Oserheimen Osunbor, has expressed concern about the high rate of human trafficking between Nigeria and Italy, particularly women from the state who are being trafficked for prostitution.

Osunbor, who spoke when he received the Italian Ambassador to Nigeria, Massimo Baistrocchi, and the Nigerian Ambassador-designate to Italy, Crown Prince Eheneden Eredi-auwa, on Tuesday at Government House in Benin City, described those who engaged in the illegal business as “slave traders.”

He spoke of the efforts made so far by both the state and federal governments in checking the activities of human traffickers in the state but said that “unfortunately, some parents collude with their children to commit this crime.”

Governor Osunbor pointed out that to curb the menace of human trafficking in the state, the state was the first to pass the Child Rights Bill into law.