The thriving modern-day slavery is exposed in the book: Eight Evils of Human Trafficking by Steve Osuji & Boniface Opute, in collaboration with the Nigerian Guild of Editors; An NGE Human Dignity Project (NGEHDP) Book Published by Arrangement with White Suite Nigeria; 2016; 274pp
A horrifying danger of the modern world is the scourge of human trafficking. It is a crying shame that the abolition of slavery is today only observed in the breach. December 2 every year marks the International Day for the Abolition of Slavery but the human trafficking going on across the globe represents a disavowal of the observance.
Respected journalist, Steve Osuji and the late chartered marketer, Boniface Opute served mankind well by digging deep into the woe of the evil trade by writing the very timely book, Eight Evils of Human Trafficking.
In his Foreword to Eight Evils of Human Trafficking, Femi Adesina, former President of the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) and currently Special Adviser (SA) of Media and Publicity to President Muhammadu Buhari, delves into the heart of the matter, thusly: “It is noteworthy that more than 90 percent of trafficked persons are female especially preteens and teenagers. While a few are deployed as maids and domestic help, the majority are articles of trade in the multi-billion dollar world flesh trade.”
The short tale of the brilliant teenage girl Kate from Benin City rends the heart. A senior secondary school student who had set her thoughts on going to the university and making a success of her life. Kate had the course of her history changed when her greedy mother Elekhia arranged through a friend for her passage to Italian prostitution in a very convoluted manner. Human trafficking recognizes no bonds of maternity, paternity, or consanguinity. Nothing is sacred in the satanic trade. Even the so-called “men of God” are active participants, not the least of which can be Catholic Reverend Fathers.
The making-babies-for-sale in the baby factories dotting the terrains of the Southeast and South-South states of Abia, Imo, Ebonyi, Enugu, Rivers, Anambra and Akwa Ibom could be seen to be stretching to the Southwestern states of Ogun and Ondo.
Diseases and death are all the rage in the lust for fast cash. It is estimated that “30,000 victims of sex trafficking die each year from abuse, disease, torture, and neglect.”
The sad story of Maria, the beautiful Catholic girl from Abbi town in Delta State, who makes the ill-fated journey to Holland illustrates a life of wreck.
On the positive side, the young Chinelo from Anambra State escapes from an arranged marriage in Lagos to make a success of her life through the help of Reverend Father Dennis. Knowing that education is key, she becomes the overall Best Graduating Student in Computer Science and caps it all up with a Master’s degree and a job with one of the mobile telephone operators.
Hope thrives eternal in Eight Evils of Human Trafficking by Steve Osuji and Boniface Opute as exemplified by Shalewa, who is duped into a dubious American marriage by her crooked childhood sweetheart, Tayo. The survival of Shalewa is the ultimate measure of human triumph. She has, since her return from America, been running a school for seven years where most of the students score distinctions in requisite subjects.
Osuji and Opute have offered mankind a treasure-trove of a book in Eight Evils of Human Trafficking.
Uzor Maxim Uzoatu is a renowned poet, journalist, and author.
Ayodelé is a Lagos-based journalist and the Content and Editorial Coordinator at Meiza. All around the megacity, I am steering diverse lifestyle magazine audiences with ingenious hacks and insights that spur fast, informed decisions in their busy lives.
