Former acting director-general of the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), Armstrong Idachaba, has called for concerted efforts by government, parents, and society to tackle the scourge of child trafficking in the country.

Mr Idachaba made the call in Abuja on Friday at the unveiling of a book entitled “Diamonds in the Flames” by Theophilus Enemali.

He described child trafficking as a “huge monster confronting the nation” and urged agencies such as the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) to intensify collaboration with stakeholders in combating the menace.

“We all have a huge responsibility as a society, as parents and governments all over the world, to redress this evil. Governments must make our country attractive to our youth, so they should invest their intelligence and innovativeness here.

“I call on NAPTIP to join Enemali in tackling this very monstrous challenge of child trafficking. It is a huge monster confronting us as a nation. May God grant us all the vision, the will, the conviction, and the strength of purpose to win this war,” he said.

Also speaking, Kehinde Akomolafe, director of public enlightenment at NAPTIP, said human trafficking is a transboundary crime that ranks second as the world’s most lucrative business after drugs.

She stated that Nigeria is a source, transit, and destination of victims of human trafficking, saying that since the inception of NAPTIP in 2003, more than 26,000 victims had been rescued, many of whom had undergone rehabilitation.

“Partnership is key because trafficking is not a fight we can do alone; child trafficking, human trafficking, exploitation, and labour actually happen in our communities.

“It happens even in our homes; so many people have children that one agent or another has brought to them, and they are manipulated, neglected, and put in harm’s way,” she said.

In her remarks, the chairman of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), Abike Dabiri-Erewa, urged travellers to travel legitimately and regularly.

In his remarks, the author, Theophilus Enemali, stressed that many Nigerians had fallen victim to trafficking, and there was a need for caution should anyone want to embark on any journey outside the country.

(NAN)