Security agencies and government officials involved in the management of displaced persons at the various camps have been warned to look out for child traffickers who might come around under the guise of rendering humanitarian assistance to victims.
Rev Bulus Tsok, Chairman Provincial Church Council (PCC) Of COCIN made the call during the Churchโs humanitarian visit to IDP camps in Riyom and Barkin Ladi Local Government Areas.
There are at least 35 IDPs spread in four local governments of the state which contains over 20,000 IDPs
The clergy said the situation of the victims at the camps who are looking out for help might make them vulnerable for other crime like trafficking.
Rev. Tsok told the IDPs, โI can see hundreds of orphans whose parents may have been killed in the attacks, traffickers might take advantage of this to traffic these innocent children. I urged the camps officials and securities to be cautious of whoever is coming here to render assistance.
The security need to be vigilant and provide adequate protection to these children, there should be proper check of any individuals, groups and organizations coming to visit the camps to establish the identity and genuineness of any person or group seeking to adopt any displaced child.
โAnyone seeking to adopt any child from any of the internally displaced persons camps must follow official procedure. All camp officials, parents and guardians of these children must be on the lookout.
โDo not be in a hurry to give out any child for adoption before you expose them to slavery or a situation where the child grows but doesnโt know his roots.
โThose that are genuine will make proper documentation and identification before taking any child and in most cases after rehabilitating the child and offering whatever support to them, they reunite them with their families and relations and not take them away forever,โ Rev. Tsok said.
The cleric who was appreciative of governmentโs efforts in meeting the needs of the displaced persons however called for their return to their original places of abode.
โLife in an IDP camp is just next to prison life. You donโt have a choice of food, bed space, drinking water or anything that makes life comfortable.
โThe poor conditions of the camps generally make life difficult, particularly slowing down their ability to heal from the traumatic experiences they must have had during the attacks,โ the Church leader said.
