The Enugu State government has urged global stakeholders to unite against human trafficking and modern-day slavery.
It described them as the most inhumane crimes confronting the world today.
The call was made yesterday by the commissioner for children, gender affairs and social development, Mrs. Ngozi Enih, during a solidarity rally held in Enugu to mark the World Day Against Trafficking in Persons.
Addressing an audience that included government officials, civil society actors, security agencies, students and community leaders, Mrs. Enih drew attention to the 2025 global theme: “Human Trafficking is Organised Crime – End the Exploitation”, stressing that the time had come for concerted, transnational efforts to dismantle the networks of exploitation that thrive on human misery.
“Today, on World Day Against Trafficking in Persons, we stand in solidarity with victims of human trafficking. This crime steals dignity, freedom, and futures—especially from women and children. As we raise our voices, let’s commit to stronger protection, justice for survivors, and a society where no one is left behind,” she said.
Mrs. Enih condemned trafficking as a form of modern-day slavery that strips victims of their basic rights and dehumanises them for profit.
She further stressed that the state government had zero-tolerance policy for all forms of slavery, abuse, and violence that compromise human dignity, and reiterated the government’s resolve to continue working closely with the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) and other partners to bring offenders to justice.
The commissioner also extended a rallying call to religious leaders, traditional rulers, civil society organisations, and local communities to intensify awareness and grassroots mobilisation against trafficking networks.