Human trafficking reflects pains of vulnerable Nigerians who fall prey to traffickers – Yilwatda
National Chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, Prof Netawe Goshwen Yilwatda has said human trafficking reflects pains of vulnerable Nigerians who fall prey to human trafficking, as the day go-bye.
He therefore, called for community-driven and inclusive strategies to combat trafficking, stressing that the fight must go beyond Government agencies to include families, schools, and local communities.
The APC National Chairman, made this known on Monday at the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Center, during the public presentation of a book, ‘Vicious Red Cycle,’ written by Ambassador Alex Ugochukwu Oriaku.
Prof Yilwatda, in his address, commended the author for using storytelling as a tool for social reform saying; “This book is more than pages and print; it is courage in ink. It reflects the pain of vulnerable Nigerians who fall prey to traffickers because of economic despair.”
Recalling his experience as Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Chairman of the African-European Migration and Development Team, Yilwatda traced the roots of human trafficking to Nigeria’s prolonged economic decline.
“Our economic decay over four decades, created fertile ground for exploitation; when industries collapsed and hope disappeared, migration and trafficking surged,” he said.
Ambassador Oriaku, in his remarks, described human trafficking as a vicious self perpetuating cycle of exploitation, vulnerability and silence, nothing that it is dehumanising and slavery, adding that it is also, a “vicious, self-perpetuating cycle of exploitation, vulnerability, and silence,” emphasizing that the book was written not merely as fiction, but as a “clarion call to collective action.”
He said: “I didn’t write this book to add another statistic to the pile, but to build a bridge of empathy between the abstract horror of global crisis and the beating heart of single human story.”
The book, follows the journey of Itohan, a young Nigerian girl ensnared in modern slavery, whose struggle for freedom and justice mirrors the plight of countless victims.
“Itohan could be your daughter’s classmate, your son’s friend, or a girl on your street, this is not just a launch; it’s a call to action. The proceeds from ‘Vicious Red Circle,’ will support the Women Trafficking and Child Labour Eradication Foundation, WOTCLEF, founded by Mrs Titi Abubakar.
“Buying this book means three things, you are bearing witness, starting a conversation, and taking tangible actions,” he said.
Reviewing the book, Dr Ike Neliaku, President of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations, lauded the intellectual ability of the author, saying, “it is a masterpiece of conscience and courage.
“This book is not just fiction; it is an art in the service of humanity, it exposes how poverty, ignorance, and corruption sustain the global evil of modern slavery.
“Through detailed analysis, this is a mirror held up to the conscience of our society. From Benin City to Paris, Oriaku weaves betrayal, and redemption. In 198 pages, he transforms fiction into advocacy,” he said.
He also commended Oriaku’s recognition of WOTCLEF’s legacy, noting that Mrs Abubakar’s work led to the creation of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons, NAPTIP.
“Legacy is what outlives power, through this book, Oriaku has added his own legacy to the struggle for human dignity,” he stated.
Also at the book presentations were Lawmakers from the National Assembly, Diplomats, Heads of Government agencies, and development partners, united by shared cause: confronting one of the world’s most pervasive human rights crises.
The event featured goodwill messages from lawmakers, Governors, diplomats, and human rights advocates, all describing the book as a wake-up call to national conscience.
