Benin Monarch Collaborates With Belgian Government To Fight Human Trafficking

By Ayodele Oni

Benin Monarch ,Omo N’ Oba N’ Edo, Uku Akpolokpolo Ewuare II, and the Belgium Ambassador to Nigeria, Pieter Leenknegt have called for collaboration and sustained advocacy against human trafficking and irregular migration.

They arrived at the decision when the Belgium Ambassador paid a courtesy visit to the Palace of the Oba in Benin City, Edo State.

Ambassador Leenknegt was accompanied by Mr Kelvin Uwaibi, Managing Director, Edo State Investment Promotion office and Mr Mosis Obakpolor, a Director in the State Civil Service.

The visit is coming five years after Oba  Ewuare received global attention for laying a curse that broke the network of persons, groups and institutions that engaged in human trafficking and its related activities.

The monarch told his guests that the human trafficking did not seem to be a menace that could be completely eradicated from the society, except with concerted efforts.

He said that human trafficking and illegal migration, which are intertwined scourge, though not peculiar to the African Continent, pose a great threat to Europe and other continents of the world.

The monarch, recalled how the Oba’s Palace took desperate measures to address them when Benin City was erroneously tagged by western media as a hub for human trafficking few years back

According to Oba Ewuare II, “Human trafficking is a menace that has been with mankind for a long time. The problem is that human trafficking is tied to illegal migration.”

Addressing the Benin throne earlier, Ambassador Leenknegt lamented the plights of many Nigerian migrants that are being exploited.

He commended Oba Ewuare II for leading the campaign against human trafficking and irregular migration, noting that the Belgian government plans to cooperate with Nigeria, relevant institutions and other Stakeholders in sensitizing “people about the risk of getting entangled in network of human traffickers.

“Your Majesty, I know this is very close to your heart; the fight against human trafficking and exploitation; so, we note this in Belgium.”