News
Group spreads campaign against human trafficking in markets
By Adeola Ogunlade
In a bid to reduce the menace of irregular migration among Nigerians, especially, women and girls, a Non-Governmental Organisation, Girls Inspired Development Network (GIDN) with Support Bon Voyage Travel Limited recently held a rally at Sabo Market, Lagos, Nigeria.
The rally saw GIDN and other civil society groups match round the market, educating people in different local languages about the perils and horrors of irregular migration. The anti-human trafficking campaigners displayed placards with inscriptions such as ‘We stand against human trafficking’ ‘Safety first, say no to exploitation’ among others.
Speaking at the event, Programme Manager for Girls Inspired Development Network, Bukola Adeboye, said that the awareness campaign was aimed at contributing to a more equitable and secure world for women and girls who are susceptible to human trafficking, modern-day slavery, and exploitation in Lagos State, and Abuja.
She said that the project is focused on empowering at least 500 girls on prevention, promoting awareness on human trafficking, and advocating for change in schools.
She highlighted forced labour, child stealing, forced prostitutions, kidnapping, organ theft, child soldiers, debt bondage and forced marriage as forms of human trafficking and modern slavery which should be tackled by all stakeholders.
Adeboye pointed out that in 2018, around 50,000 human trafficking victims were detected and reported by 148 countries, according to the United Nations. Victims often end up in brothels, working as domestic servants or engaged in heavy manual labour and are traded around the world and across borders.
She noted that those trafficked from Nigeria are often lured with the prospect of good jobs abroad, but find themselves trapped with concocted debts by the traffickers.
She went further to call on government and other stakeholders to raise awareness about this issue, support victims, and hold traffickers accountable for their crimes, adding that by doing so, we can help to put an end to this horrific practice and ensure that victims receive the support and justice they deserve.
Adeboye further stressed that the organisation is working with teachers in Education District IV to train educators on how to provide support to potential victims and establish a safe and confidential reporting mechanism within the schools.
Le projet de budget de l’État norvégien pour 2027 ne prévoit pas d’affecter 1 % du revenu national brut du pays à l’aide internationale, malgré la hausse des recettes et des besoins humanitaires sans précédent, a déclaré le Conseil norvégien pour les réfugiés (NRC).
Le secrétaire général du NRC, Jan Egeland, a qualifié cette proposition de « surprenante et décevante », avertissant qu’elle envoie un mauvais signal alors que d’autres grands donateurs réduisent leur aide.
Selon M. Egeland, les réductions des financements humanitaires à l’échelle mondiale privent des millions de personnes déplacées par les conflits d’un abri adéquat, tandis que l’aide alimentaire et l’accès à l’éducation sont réduits.
La Norvège a maintenu ses contributions à l’aide au cours des deux dernières années, alors que d’autres grands donateurs annonçaient des coupes, a-t-il indiqué. Compte tenu de la richesse croissante du pays et de sa tradition humanitaire, la Norvège devrait continuer à soutenir les personnes dans le besoin, a ajouté M. Egeland.
Le NRC a appelé le Parlement norvégien à réviser le budget afin de porter les dépenses d’aide à 1 % du revenu national brut et de donner la priorité à l’aide d’urgence.
The Norwegian government’s proposed 2027 state budget does not allocate 1% of the country’s gross national income to international aid, despite rising revenues and record humanitarian needs, the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) said.
NRC Secretary General Jan Egeland called the proposal “surprising and disappointing,” warning that it sends the wrong signal as other major donors cut aid.
Egeland said global reductions in humanitarian funding were leaving millions of people displaced by conflict without adequate shelter, while food assistance and access to education were being reduced.
Norway had maintained its aid contributions over the past two years as other major donors announced cuts, he said. Given the country’s growing wealth and humanitarian tradition, Norway should continue supporting people in need, Egeland added.
The NRC urged Norway’s parliament to revise the budget to bring aid spending up to 1% of gross national income and prioritise emergency assistance.
Italian authorities have detained the search-and-rescue vessel *Sea Punk I* for 15 days and imposed a €7,500 fine following the rescue of 20 people in international waters.
The rescue took place on Thursday, 10 September 2026, near the Bouri oil platform. The vessel’s crew said the operation was conducted in coordination with Italian authorities and in line with applicable conventions and international regulations.
Authorities cited the so-called Piantedosi Decree and accused the captain of failing to follow instructions from the so-called Libyan Coast Guard. The *Sea Punk I* is an alliance partner of the Justice Fleet, a coalition of civil search-and-rescue organisations and supporters.
The Justice Fleet said the detention brings the total number of days its vessels have been blocked by Italian authorities to more than 310 since the alliance was founded in November 2025. The *Sea Punk I* is the 11th Justice Fleet vessel to be detained.
Civil search-and-rescue organisations have documented almost 80 incidents of extreme violence by Libyan militias since 2016, most attributed to the so-called Libyan Coast Guard, according to the Justice Fleet. The group also says more than 27,000 people fleeing Libya were forcibly returned there last year, in violation of international law. It said refugees and migrants in the country face rising violence and death threats.
“While extreme violence against people on the move is currently unfolding in Libya, the Italian authorities want to force us to cooperate with the so-called Libyan Coast Guard. Not with us!” said Justice Fleet spokesperson Giulia Messmer, calling for an end to European cooperation with the force.
The Justice Fleet was founded in November 2025 by 13 search-and-rescue organisations, with support from civil society groups. It says its aims include challenging the detention of rescue vessels in Italy and opposing the outsourcing of migration control to Libyan actors.
Le budget d’aide proposé par la Norvège n’atteint pas l’objectif de 1 %, selon le NRC
Norway’s proposed aid budget falls short of 1% target, NRC says
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Les autorités italiennes immobilisent un navire de sauvetage après avoir secouru 20 personnes
Italian authorities detain rescue vessel after saving 20 lives
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