AKH – TRACADA: Towards eradicating Kidnapping, Human trafficking, Child and Drug abuse

By Ochiaka Ugwu

Although kidnapping, Human trafficking, child and drug abuse are global problem that have an effect on humanity. This best explains why Governments all over the world are trying hard to address this problem and ensure that the perpetrators are captured and brought to justice.
Again, some Non Governmental Organizations (NGOs) have also joined in the fight against nipping these social vices on the bud believing that these inhuman practices can be reduced with their involvement as government cannot do all. It was based on this that Anti Kidnapping, Human Trafficking, Child Abuse and Drug Abuse  Initiative (AKH-TRACADA) led by Mr. Belonwu Ezeanyaeche was formed to lead the fight in eradicating these enemies of humanity.

Dame Pauline Tallen, Minister of Women Affairs

Speaking on the effort to eradicate these social vices, the National President of AKH-TRACADA, Mr. Belonwu Ezeanyaeche who noted that towns and communities in Anambra State and other states of South – East and South –South were no longer safe for residents informed on his discovery of “maternity homes” where babies are produced and sold to ritualists.

He also revealed that selling of babies or children is now a booming business in these states as well as rampant cases of kidnapping of children and adults alike.

Going down memory on the formation of the NGO, Ezeanyaeche said that about 10 years ago; someone confronted him in his village in Igbo – Ukwu, ANAMBRA State and the man was an Assistant Chief Registrar of Igbo – Ukwu Customary Court.

Belonwu Ezeanyaeche, National President of AKH-TRACADA

His words, “It was a total revelation as two people (boys) were fighting and I went to separate them, while the on-lookers refused to separate them. That Assistant Chief Registrar turned and told me that very soon; after he finished dealing with me he will also burn my house. He said that my matter have been concluded by them. I was shocked. I quickly reported him to the vigilante men that were there for the threat. I also went further to Ekwulobia to report to the Police Station of the same man and his threat to my life and property. He was promptly arrested by the Police. In his statement, he confirmed what he said against me.

“I was then, the Executive Director, United Nations for Arts and Culture, under late Professor Catherine Acholonu. I was advised to report in writing to the State Security Service (SSS) Anambra State and copied their Director – General at Headquarters in Abuja. After all that it was discovered that many people were involved and arrest was also made to that effect. It was discovered that they had planned to kidnap me and maybe in the process, I might be killed.

“That sad experience made me to join one Anti – kidnapping organization called Volunteered Against Kidnapping and Human Trafficking (VAKHT) as its Anambra State Director. Based on this, I started furnishing information to Police and State Security Service (SSS). The NGO was full of assistance to the state Security Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) and SSS where we affected quality assistance that led to arrest of many suspects. Between year 2009 and 2014, it was like a hell as ritualists and kidnappers were on rampage in all the communities in the State, including Enugu, Ebonyi, Abia, and Imo respectively”.

Investigations revealed that AKH-TRACADA has rescued over 30 children from kidnappers and further rescued 35 teenage girls, three pregnant women and 25 persons that included men, women, boys and girls from kidnappers.

According to Ezeanyaeche, “The height of its all is the discovery of brothels at Amansa in Awka where babies are produced and sold to ritualists. The rescued victims were handed over to the Police and DSS. The owners of the brothel were also arrested by the Police and DSS. Surprise to tell you that this brothel has relocated from Amansa Awka to Ugwuoba in Oji River in Enugu State, and their business of buying and selling is now booming”.

He reveled that some people in South-East are full involved in this dirty business of buying and selling of babies as well as kidnapping. “Very sad indeed to tell you that crime and criminality in Anambra State have now taken a new dimension. We Anti – kidnapping, Human Trafficking, Child Abuse and Drugs Abuse  Initiative (AKH – TRACADA), discovered, base on information from young girls (victims) that delivered babies at these manufacturing homes that many big men (businessmen) were involved in the  deal. They are the real patrons.

“They have these girls, mostly students, into the business of getting pregnant at agreed fees. The money will be paid to the girls after successful delivery of their babies. Young men that will make love (sleep) with them to get them pregnant were also stationed at the “wonderful homes”. After delivery, their babies would be sold immediately to stand-by ritualists, as earlier agreed. They collect their money and go”.

Speaking on the advocacy made by the NGO to help government, Ezeanyaeche noted they have advised the State Government (Anambra) to deploy the service of the Department of State Security Service (DSS) to take over screening of all vigilante members given the fact that current vigilante people who claimed to have been screened by the State Government were not trust-worthy and has questionable character.

Ezeanyaeche who described rape as having sexual intercourse with a woman or girl without her consent or with her consent if the consent is obtained by force, threats or intimidation or by means of fraudulent representation, says it contravenes section 357 of the Criminal Code of the Federation and attracts a penalty of life imprisonment.

He says that Section 359 and 380 of the code, says attempt to commit rape and indecent assault on females attracts 14 and two years imprisonment respectively.

He blamed parents for not instilling the right values in their children and noted that indiscipline and immorality are prevalent among the youth.

He said the inability of most prosecutions to prove beyond reasonable doubts that rape offence was committed makes most rape cases unsustainable in the courts.

“The court delivers judgment based on facts and evidence before it. The Nigeria conservative nature also hinders prosecution of rape cases. Parents will find it difficult to go to court and testify in a rape case of their girl child because they consider it shameful. I will advise that the Police and judicial system be strengthened to tackle this. Appropriate sex education should be introduced early to our children. Not giving our children sex education exposes them to a lot of things”.

He called for sensitization of youth, by going to schools, churches and mosques as a way out of the quagmire and noted that education of youth being used by politicians, ritualists and kidnappers to perpetrate evil in the society should be done now.

He said parents should also question their children that come back with big handset, bags, monies and cars on how they get them. “Longer throat” for money or riches by parents are also part of the problem.

He lamented that cultism has gone beyond schools and has penetrated rural areas. “Women and girls should be careful as most boys and men may drug them and have free marathon sex and eventually use them for ritual purposes”.

He noted that girls’ trafficking is due to greed as most of them knew from day one that they were going to engage in prostitution.

“Their parents are aware of their business who encourages them to go and make money to build houses and buy expensive cars. I can recall that NAPTIP says over 200 Nigerian women have been rescued from Libya where they are being used as sex slaves. Majority of these girls are being trapped in Saudi Arabia, Libya. Most of them are being killed, while their organs taken away”.

While calling on top echelon of the Police to appraise the overall security situation and proffer the way forward, he charged Christian, Muslim clerics and opinion leaders across the country to always fish-out potential trouble makers within their area who could be nursing plans to unleash mayhem to innocent Nigerians.

Recall that in November last year in Abuja, while speaking on the need to protect children by domesticating the Child Rights Act by state governments, Minister of Women Affairs, Pauline Tallen, said the effective development and implementation of policies and legal provision on the protection of the rights of children is one of government’s primary mandates.
“In recent times, the plight of children in child care centres in Nigeria has attracted national and international attention.
Reports in the media about abhorrent practices such as baby racketeering, proliferation of substandard homes and illegal adoptions among others calls for collective societal concern and needs urgent attention,” she said.

However, Peoples Daily reporter spoke to survival of trafficking who underwent rehabilitation under Anti – kidnapping, Human Trafficking, Child Abuse and Drugs Abuse Initiative (AKH – TRACADA), they were full of praises for the NGO and urged the relevant government agencies like Federal Ministry of Women Affairs, NAPTIP, Nigeria Police, DSS and Ministry of Humanitarian Services to partner with AKH – TRACADA towards eradicating the scourge.  

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"Parents should also question their children that come back with big handset, bags, monies and cars on how they get them. “Longer throat” for money or riches by parents are also part of the problem.

He lamented that cultism has gone beyond schools and has penetrated rural areas. “Women and girls should be careful as most boys and men may drug them and have free marathon sex and eventually use them for ritual purposes. He noted that girls’ trafficking is due to greed as most of them knew from day one that they were going to engage in prostitution".