February 24, (THEWILL) –Â The federal lawmaker representing Ikwo/Ezza federal constituency in the House of Representatives, Comrade Chinedu Ogah has awarded scholarships to over over seventeen (17) persons who were trafficked to Ogun state for menial jobs and prostitution.
The trafficked teenage victims were 17 in number from different villages in Ikwo and Ezza South Local Government Area of Ebonyi.
He however handed over the trafficked victims to the ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development to partner with the Chiboy Foundation for the management of the scholarship scheme.
The lawmaker stated that the victims were lured and trafficked from various villages in Ikwo and Ezza South Local Government respectively to Agbala in Ogun state where the victims were used for various hard labour such as hawking, prostitution, peddling of drugs in those cities for their selfish interest.
“I got the news of child trafficking of Ebonyians in Ogun state, and when I learnt of it, I alerted the Ikwo town union president in Lagos state. They abandoned their businesses and mobilized to Ogun state which they spent up to two weeks to locate the children.
“These children are from Ikwo, Ezza South, and other parts of Ebonyi state. Based on the foundation that the governor has laid, it is our duty to contribute our quota to make sure we care for the welfare of our people.
“I am here to handover these children to the Honorable Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development and we are assuring them that we will train any of them that wants to learn skills or go to school from primary to University level. The are 17 in number from the lists including a woman that is harbouring them.We are going to rehabilitate them for brighter future.
The commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Mrs. Chinwe Okah appreciated the lawmaker for displaying a high sense of commitment and responsibility to locate the trafficked teenagers and brought them back to the state for rehabilitation and integration with their families.
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