The Cross River State House of Assembly has introduced a bill aimed at combating human trafficking, recognizing it as a major issue driven by poverty, unemployment, family breakdown, and socio-environmental factors.
The bill, sponsored by Brian Odey, the representative for Yala 1 State Constituency, successfully passed its second reading on Thursday. It seeks to establish a strong legal framework to prevent human trafficking, prosecute offenders, and protect victims throughout the state.
Odey highlighted that human trafficking remains a significant challenge in Cross River due to its proximity to Cameroon and Equatorial Guinea, making it both a source and a transit point for trafficked individuals. Victims are often exploited for forced labor, commercial sex work, organ harvesting, and domestic servitude, with many being transported to other parts of Nigeria and beyond.
The bill, which contains 27 sections, focuses on critical areas such as the creation of a State Taskforce on Trafficking, the prohibition of human trafficking, the criminalization of sexual exploitation and child labor, and the jurisdiction for prosecuting offenders.
Odey emphasized that the bill would strengthen the state’s legal framework for combating trafficking and ensure the protection of victims.
Lawmakers expressed unanimous support for the bill, stressing its importance in safeguarding vulnerable individuals. Hilary Bisong, representing Boki 2, called human trafficking a serious criminal offense that must be addressed with urgency, highlighting the need to protect victims while holding perpetrators accountable.
Francis Asuquo of Odukpani emphasized that domestication of the anti-trafficking law would bolster protections for at-risk groups and provide a clear legal standard within the state.
Martin Achadu from Yala 2 described human trafficking as a modern-day form of slavery, urging swift passage of the bill to end the exploitation.
Speaker Elvert Ayambem also voiced strong support for the bill, stressing that trafficking is a grave crime deserving of strict punishment. He assured that the 10th Assembly is committed to safeguarding every Cross Riverian and will take all necessary steps to ensure the bill becomes law.
