By Ankeli Emmanuel (In Sokoto State)
The Network Against Child Trafficking, Abuse and Labour (NACTAL), Nigeria has decried that, the sad incident of flood in Borno state could be exploited by heartless people to perpetuate evils against humanity.
Registering their concern at a press conference in Sokoto, the National President of NACTAL, Nigeria, Abdulganiyu Abubakar said the flood situation in Borno state was very devasting and deserve urgent attention from all stakeholders.
"We share in the pains of all those affected in the Maiduguri flood and pray for succor. This situation has displaced over 200,000 people with an estimated number of 200 missing persons. A lot of families are currently in the Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps with others scouting for the protection they can get".
Continuing, Abdulganiyu who is also the Regional Representative of the West Africa Coalition Against Trafficking In Persons and Smuggling of Migrants (WACTIPSOM) said, ''It is important to note that this unfortunate and disheartening situation is likely to fuel incidences of trafficking, sexual abuse and exploitation and irregular migration of women and children.
"In the light of the above, the National President of NACTAL Nigeria/ is appealing to the Government of Nigeria and all member organizations of NACTAL Nigeria and other sisterCivil Society Organizations(CSOs)to immediately activate all protection mechanisms that are available for the protection of women and children.
"We wish to use this medium to also call on development partners to come to the aid of the vulnerable in this trying time"", Abdulganiyu appealed.
Also present at the press conference are children and students from some schools and families came out in their numbers to show solidarity to those affected by the unfortunate flood incident in Maiduguri. NNL.
