Hendrix Oliomogbe
Determined to curtail the rising c tvases of human trafficking in Edo State, a group, Committee for the Support of the Dignity of Women (COSUDOW), has taken its crusade against the scourge to the church.
Speaking to the congregation shortly after a Sunday mass on February 15, 2026 at St. Augustine Catholic Church, Benin, the coordinator, Rev. Sr. Justina Odunnukwe admonished parents to keep a close tab on their children so that they will not fall prey to the antics of human traffickers.
Rev. Sr. Odunnukwe decried the activities of human traffickers, noting that young and promising girls aged between 20 and 25 are the prime targets.
The clergywoman said that the traffickers, with sugar coated tongues trick their victims with promises of an easy life of fame and mega fortunes in Europe, only for them to end up as prostitutes, subjected to the worst form of sex slavery.
The coordinator lamented that most of the victims ended up sleeping with over 20 men daily and are infected with the dreaded Human Immuno Deficiency Syndrome/ Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (HIV/AIDS).
As a way out, Rev. Sr. Odunnukwe advised parents to guide and counsel their female children so that they don't fall to the evil machinations of human traffickers.
She said: "Once trafficked, these young girls, who are mostly aged between 20 and 25 are subjected to inhuman treatment. All the money they make goes into the pockets of the traffickers. They are forced to sleep with up to 20 men daily.
"Parents should stay close to their female so that they can guide and counsel them against the ways of human traffickers. Women, mothers should rise up against this sexual slavery."
She told the congregation that COSUDO has a shelter for victims in Benin City, some of who have tested positive for HIV/AIDS and psychologically broken in two.
Rev. Sr. Odunnukwe said: "Victims are sent to COSUDO were we try to rehabilitate and reintegrate them into the society at our shelter but prevention , they say is better than cure. We try to help them at COSUDO."
The coordinator of Society for Empowered Youths Development (SEYD),Ms. Doris Ogbeifun amplified Sr. Odunnukwe, noting that parents should be wary of traffickers, who promise their children thousands of dollars as salaries monthly only to be subjected to prostitution once they are outside the shores of Nigeria.
Ms. Ogbeifun conceded that times are hard in Nigeria but quickly adding that it is not a justification for irregular migration of young girls abroad for the purpose of prostitution.
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