Why child trafficking is on the increase - Delta Commissioner

The Delta State Commissioner for Women Affairs, Mrs. Omatshola Williams says there is an increase of child trafficking syndicates in the country.

Briefing newsmen in her office in Asaba on Tuesday, October 18, Mrs. Williams while describing the development as worrisome, said that the ministry was not involved in child trafficking,  and described those behind the media reports accusing her of alleged child trafficking as mischief makers, adding that the state was poised to bring to book all human traffickers.

She disclosed that the Ministry registered 27 orphanage homes containing 307 children in the state that are under continuous observance, she urged Deltans to also be proactive in assisting the ministry with information that could help in curbing the menace of trafficking.

Recounting some of the efforts of the Ministry so far, she said that the ministry had conducted raids on suspicious orphanage homes in Warri and had proactively thwarted efforts to traffick children in Sapele axis of the state.

According to the Commissioner for Women Affairs, "before I came into this Ministry I never agreed that people could sell children. But from all indications child trafficking is now a business. Some people who work in orphanages when they see what is happening they would want to go and set their own to continue in the illegal business."

On the allegation that the Ministry was involved in child trafficking, she insisted that it was not true, allegedly accusing one Mr. Aghogho Ighorokwunu of sponsoring the said media reports in some national dailies. She alleged: “Aghogho Ighorokwunu, proprietor of Exclusive Academy, a reformatory centre in Abraka, Ethiope East axis of the state, applied to be given permission to set up a reformatory centre in the state to which the ministry refused.

“We explained to him that it was only law enforcement agents that could execute such acts. He even took us to court, we are just surprised that he still went ahead to address the press on a case before the law court.”

The Commissioner however, called on the press to always cross check any information on their disposal before going to the press noting that it will engender confidence between press and public.

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