Returned Migrants Seek Inclusion Into Edo Task Force Against Human Trafficking

By Simeon OSAJIE

A group known as “Returned Migrants Association” (RMA), Edo State, has called on the Executive Governor of Edo State, Senator Monday Okpebholo to include members of the association into the administration of the Edo State Task Force Against Human Trafficking/Edo State Migration Agency with the view of strengthening the agency and halting irregular migration in the state.

The Association who protested across some streets in Benin City, stopped over at the secretariat of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Edo State with different inscriptions, such as “Give Back Our Shelter”, “Shelter Belong To The Returned Migrants”, “Return Migrants Shelter Have Been Taken”, etc. said the new government must do all in its power to investigate the agency noting that the purpose of setting it up has been defeated at the moment.

Speaking on behalf of the Association, Mr. Jude O. Ikuenobe, President and Engr. Alex Onaiwu, Secretary, respectively said that a thorough investigation into the activities of the Edo State Task Force Against Human Trafficking/Edo State Migration Agency will leave them all in total shock as there have been a complete abandonment of the Agency’s broader mandate which is to reintegrate returning migrants and foster sustainable development through effective migration policies.

They said the agency as an institution of the state government is charged with a major responsibility of reintegrating and rehabilitating Edo citizens who have had a horrifying and terrible experience as a result of their sojourn to other parts of the world to seek greener pastures through illegal means and routes.

They maintained that however, film makers who pay stipends now occupy this important agency’s offices and shelter that is supposed to cater for the housing needs of returning migrants until they are stable enough to be reintegrated back to our society.

They said that now that the election is over, they can see his actions towards moving their dear state forward hence the need to immediately notify him of the gross marginalization received by the various members of the Returned Migrants Association by the Edo State Task Force against Human Trafficking/Edo State Migration Agency.

They remarked that as a group, they are pledging their full support to his administration as he pilots the affairs of the state and take it back to its glorious days.

They said that they are fully confident that under his leadership, meaningful and tangible progress and development that will affect the lives of all Edo citizens will be recorded immensely and the members of the Returned Migrants Association will be fully recognized to help checkmate the surge of irregular migration in the state.