National Orientation Agency, NOA, has called on Nigerians, especially those in rural areas, to be vigilant as there is an upsurge in child trafficking and prostitution involving Nigerians.
NOA equally urged citizens to beware of suspicious persons who approach them with the promise of giving their children better lease of life in the city.
According to press statement signed by NOA’s deputy director of press, Mr. Fidel Agu, the alert became necessary following intelligence community reports which reveal that the Malian authorities have uncovered an under-aged prostitution ring operated by Nigerians.
This report was sequel to the arrest of 12 Nigerian adolescent girls involved in prostitution at Kangaba village along Guinea Conakry Road, outside Bamako, Mail.
The girls, mostly of Edo and Delta States origin, were commercial sex workers at a restaurant/bar called “Nigeria” and owned by an indigene of Edo State popularly known as “Mama Rose.”
The statement said, “Investigation also reveals that the girls entered Mali with fake identification cards allegedly issued by human trafficking syndicates operating in Nigeria and Benin Republic.
“Consequently, NOA advises Nigerians not to give out their wards to strangers and suspicious persons whose means of livelihood were not known to avoid the menace of such children being trafficked; in addition, traditional rulers, ward heads and parents are advised to be vigilant and conscious of suspicious persons in their communities in order to promptly report such and checkmate the activities of human trafficking syndicates.”
NOA further assured Nigerians that all relevant government organs and other stakeholders had been alerted and were working assiduously to nip the activities of human trafficking syndicates in the bud.
The agency also called on Nigerians to reflect on the tenets of core values and cooperate with the government and its agencies to check all forms of crime and criminality.
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Source:: Nigerian Pilot