Mr Chinedu Ogah, representing Ikwo/Ezza South Federal Constituency has announced the award of scholarships to two victims of human trafficking from Ebonyi rescued in Ogun state recently. The Federal lawmaker made the announcement on Wednesday in Abakaliki at the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development during a brief ceremony to handover the 17 rescued victims to Ebonyi government .
Ogah stated that over 20 trafficked victims including girls and boys aged between 17 years and above were rescued from different parts of Ogun state adding that 17 were repatriated back to Ebonyi. He said that the victims would be united with their families after undergoing rehabilitation process from the ministry. “I got the news of Ebonyi children trafficked to Ogun state and immediately the information got to me, I quickly made contact with the leadership of Ikwo local government area development union in Lagos state. “I mobilised them and they moved down to Ogun state and within two weeks they were able to locate the victims at different locations. “Some of the victims are from Ikwo, some from Ezza while others are from other parts of the state. ” Based on the foundation that Gov. Dave Umahi has laid in Ebonyi, it is our duty to contribute our own quota in ensuring that we cater for the welfare of our people. “I am here today to officially handover the rescued victims to Ebonyi government to rehabilitate and reunite them with their families.
“We are going to take responsibility of education from secondary to university levels of the two girls that have opted to further their education while we are going to train those who are willing to learn vocational skills in any field,” Ogah said.
Some of the rescued victims of human trafficking
Responding, Mrs Chinwe Okah, Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development who received the victims on behalf of the state government commended Ogah for his exceptional representation. She said that the victims would be properly documented and rehabilited before being reintegrated with their families. She further assured that government would meticulously study the report from investigations carried out by the Ogun state police for effective prosecution of perpetrators. “On behalf of Her Excellency, Mrs Rachel Umahi, I thank you for what you have done for the state by ensuring rescue of these our innocent children. “Thank you for pledging to take responsibility for their education and vocational trainings.” I want to assure you that the ministry will partner with you to ensure that they are monitored to the later. “We are going to document them for effective rehabilitation before uniting them with their families,” Okah said.
