The Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Akwa Ibom State Council, Comrade Nsibiet John, has urged parents to be more vigilant in safeguarding their children, stressing that child trafficking remains an unjustifiable crime against humanity.
Comrade John made the remark during a campaign against Child Theft and Trafficking, organized by the Children Re-Orientation Peace and Development Initiative on Wednesday, September 10, 2025, at the Women Development Centre, off IBB Way, Uyo.
Speaking at the event, the Chairman added that the primary responsibility of protecting children rests with parents at home, while government and security agencies can only complement such efforts by building on the security consciousness instilled in the children.
He stressed the role of families in ensuring children’s safety, warning that traffickers often exploit lapses in parental vigilance.
“There is no justification for the trafficking of any individual. Parents must be extra vigilant because society is rough, and people often take advantage of carelessness to steal children,” he said.
The NUJ Boss also lauded Governor Umo Eno for his commitment to security, describing him as a people-centered leader, who has the people at heart and has facilitated the creation of security structures such as the Ibom Security Network as proof of his determination to protect lives and property.
Speaking further, the chairman commended the organization led by Comrade Ekemini Robert for his bold move, noting that the campaign would help curb the rising cases of child abuse, slavery, organ harvesting, and kidnapping linked to trafficking.
Comrade John urged members of the organization to actively engage in intelligence sharing with security agencies, including the Police, DSS, Navy, Civil Defence Corps, and NAPTIP, to strengthen the fight against child trafficking.
Also speaking, the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Hon. (Mrs.) Inibehe Silas, represented by Mrs. Precious Paul, lauded the initiative, noting that it would help safeguard children across all 31 local government areas of the state.
On his part, the Commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Bashar Hussaini, represented by CSC Wilson Effiong, reiterated the Corps’ commitment to eradicating trafficking. He maintained that children are a collective responsibility and called for collaboration, vigilance, and attention to detail by stakeholders working in local communities.
Highpoints of the event was a tone-setting presentation by the founder of the initiative, Evangelist Comrade Ekemini Robert, and the official endorsement of the campaign across the 31 local government areas of Akwa Ibom State.
