| photo from google |
Over the past few days the hash-tag Libya,
saynotohumantracficking has been trending on social media. If you are not a
social media enthusiast, Libya has been in the news for slave trading and human
trafficking, specifically of migrants. The CNN report has been successful in
drawing attention to migration problems and the issue of slave trade which has
been presented not just as a problem in Africa but as a global problem. But I
roll my eyes every time I see a new post by a Nigerian politician or Nigerian
celebrity.
I remember two weeks prior to the big reveal by CNN, a certified
blogger ‘DANG’ had already mentioned it in one of her posts and nobody, no
Nigerian ‘celebrity’ reacted or reposted this very sensitive issue. If she had
posted about a social wedding or concerts, you would have seen reposts on
different pages, but slave trading was none of our business.
Slave trade/ human trafficking have been around for a long
time and a lot of our African leaders were already aware, but I see African
leaders reacting now because all eyes are on them. Activists have been raising alarms
on issues of rape, torture, forced labor of migrants, black Africans in North
African countries, but all of those raised voices fell on deaf ears. Over here,
we were/are much more concerned about the presidential election that would
happen in 2019 and who wants to contest and the latest online scandal.
Fast forward to November 14, an international news outlet
‘CNN’ showed a heart wrenching video of the young Africans being auctioned off
near Tripoli https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2S2qtGisT34.
Even after that, a week later, Nigerian politicians or
celebrities were still not enraged enough to comment about it! All it took was
for Chris Brown, an international artist to post it on his instagram page and
the Nigerian celebrities suddenly started to acknowledge the issue and repost.
Nigerian celebrities started to post it online, followed by Nigerian
politicians who for some reason seem unaware of anything important except how
they want to campaign come 2019 (I have issues with where their priorities
lie).
Now we all seem enraged by this slave trafficking issue,
Antonio Gueterres, a UN Chief is horrified; Alpha Conde is outraged, Nigerian
politicians and celebrities are appalled, urgent meetings here and there.
Nigerians have organized a mass protest in Ikoyi, Lagos and there so many
petitions online.
I appreciate the efforts of World Food Programme, the IOM
and other organizations, I applaud the fact that we are all speaking about it,
I appreciate that the issue has garnered the attention it deserves, all thanks
to social media but as usual, we Nigerians like eye-service, and we are all
hypocrites.
Slave trading/human trafficking happens here at home, it is an archaic act that is still very much present in this modern day, your neighbors are into slave trading/human trafficking, your grandmother is into slave trading/human trafficking, you are involved in slave trading/human trafficking. So why come online to start condemning and showing concern?
If you go into the homes on the island, go to the markets on
the main land, go to a primary school early in the morning, you will see ‘house
helps’ we refer to them as ‘Egun’, young boys and girls. They are brought in
from Togo or Benin by men/women who get paid 70 thousand naira yearly. Some are
lucky enough to leave with families that genuinely care for them, while most
are turned to modern slaves, who wear rags and sleep in unconventional places.
This is also slave trade and human trafficking. We act like we don’t know.
I hear people say ‘it is the fault of the government’.
Nigerians only speak up when it is convenient for them; we end up pointing
accusing fingers at the government. We need to stop that; we need to be
objective people, have a line and not cross them. The issue of slave trading and human
trafficking can be ‘cured’ by individuals like you and I on a micro level. It
is about speaking out against it, taking actions to help these migrants
(Benin/Togo), send them to a public school and not send them back. Help them
learn a vocation. Let them be productive people for themselves. Clear the grass
in your own little way; stop the situation happening here to stop the one
happening in Libya.
Yes, it is also up to the government on a macro level, it
has to create cushions to support the growing population; it has to invest in
long term solutions to deter the youths from wanting to run away from their
home, not just the solutions that will look good on their campaign ads.
It also has to educate people on what lies beyond. The root
causes include ignorance and poverty. These migrants are sometimes ignorant and
they are made to believe the lies; that the grass is greener on the other side.
They want to get to that ‘other side’ by any means necessary and they end up falling
prey to some horrible people. We need to continue to talk about it, there is
nothing like too much talk to educate people of pertinent issues.
On a final note,
We shouldn’t have to wait for the international committee to
be outraged before we are.
Charity begins at home.
Remove the specs from your eyes before pointing out the
specs in other eyes.
Education should be a right for every citizen. Ignorance is
a cause of trepidation, if we as a country intend to move forward, it should be
checked.
We as individuals must do better, we must learn to love
other humans as much as we love ourselves, speak out for ourselves, enable
others, and speak out for others. Only then would a thing like slave
trade/human trafficking be truly eradicated.
We are all guilty of Libya,
We all must take responsibility.
Thank you
Leave comments below as to your opinions on the issue slave trading
and human trafficking and what can be done.
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