By OLAYINKA LATONA

THE Redeemed Christian Church of God, RCCG, King’s Court Parish and a France-based non-governmental Christian organization, Justice Acts, have called on the Nigerian government, parents and various stakeholders in the country to join hands in the onerous task of arresting human trafficking in the country.

The clarion call was made while RCCG played host to visiting members of the Justice Acts, France, one of the ministries of Youth With A Mission, YWAM, at the King’s Court Parish in Victoria Island, Lagos.

The pastor-in-charge of RCCG Lagos Province 39, Pastor Ben Akabueze who was represented by his wife, Pastor Ngozi Akabueze emphasised the need for children to be educated and avoid being tricked. She also advised that people should be contented, as greed and quest for riches had been seen as factors responsible for human trafficking.

According to her: “Godliness with contentment is a great gain. In the midst of challenges, economic recession; some people will still make it. I believe in the midst of challenges there are opportunities. Recession is a global issue and it is even better for us in Nigeria because Nigerians are hospitable. We should not allow our present challenges to draw us into selling our future through child trafficking.”

Akabueze explained that RCCG under the leadership of the wife of the General Overseer, Pastor Folu Adeboye believes that God requires us to provide protection for those most vulnerable and that the Church must give a voice to the voiceless.

According to her, RCCG has a home called “The Habitation of Hope Ministry” where streets boys and girls are  rehabilitated and educated up to higher institution level while some are involved in different vocational trainings.

In her words: “We see Justice Acts as an organization that has the same vision with RCCG, and we appreciate that the organization did not see the problem as a Nigerian problem but a global one which is against humanity and all hands must be on deck to eradicate human trafficking.

“RCCG, King’s Court has a ministry called “Beth-Tzedekah”, a home that rehabilitates prostitutes, especially the young ones who are educated up to university level. They are encouraged and reunited with their families,” she added.

Narrating her experience with victims of child trafficking within and outside the country, wife of the Assistant Provincial Pastor, Province 39, Pastor Peace Alabi said it is disheartening that most mothers encouraged their daughters to engage in prostitution even in Nigeria, explaining that human trafficking has grown into a big business controlled by a cartel around the world.

Stressing that human trafficking is modern day slavery and man’s inhumanity to man, she maintained that it has become a more complex enterprise that ultimately requires stiffer and tougher measures to combat, appealing to governments at all levels to evolve ways of curtailing the growing phenomenon.