PRAISE CHIAMAKA OKAFOR

The study was carried out to investigate Human trafficking in Nigeria: A study of Ovia North East L.G.A in Edo State. It used Ovia North East as the Area of study. The study used a sample of 20 respondents and five objectives. The study's findings underscore the critical role poverty plays in facilitating human trafficking in Ovia North East Local Government, Edo State. Poverty creates a vulnerable population that traffickers exploit, perpetuating a cycle of exploitation and poverty. The underdevelopment of Benin City, Nigeria, and Africa at large, drives migration through illegal routes, aligning with the push-and-pull theory. This highlights the need for sustainable development and economic opportunities to reduce the allure of illegal migration. Notably, NGOs and NAPTIP are actively engaged in rehabilitating returnees, providing psychological and economic support. However, the study reveals a concerning trend: some returnees, despite rehabilitation, choose to reengage in trafficking. This underscores the complexity of the issue and the need for comprehensive, long-term solutions. The study recommends the Implementation of policies to reduce poverty and unemployment, particularly among young people, to reduce their vulnerability to trafficking, the strengthening of law enforcement to enhance law enforcement capabilities to combat trafficking, including training for officials and increased resources for investigations and prosecutions and provision of support services that will establish and fund support services for victims of trafficking, including counseling, healthcare, and economic empowerment programs.