CLAPHAM ANTI-SLAVERY CHRISTIAN MOVEMENT, 1773-1833: AN APPROACH TO THE ERADICATION OF MODERN HUMAN TRAFFICKING IN NIGERIA

SOURCE:

Faculty: Arts
Department: Religion And Human Relations

CONTRIBUTORS:

Ogbodo M. Onyeka
Patrick E. Nmah

ABSTRACT:

This research seeks to address and proffer solution to modern human trafficking in Nigeria. The primary and secondary sources of data collection were used in the research, and analysed using the historical and phenomenological methods. The study observed that human trafficking as it is today is a modern form of slavery and slave trade. During the old slavery era, human rights were abused, man power usurped, population reduced, culture defamed, physical pains afflicted on victims, and their psyche traumatized. TheClaphamSect saw the evil of the trade and explored every available legitimate means to fight against the trade to an official end in 1833. Modern human trafficking entails removing the able bodied men, women and children of Nigeria by some dubious persons, usually fellow Nigerians to strange environments. Victims are engaged in hard and cheap labour, exploitative activities like hawking, domestic servitude, forced marriage, illegal adoption,forced or induced organ removal or human sacrifice. Many people become victims of trafficking through deceit and coercion while some voluntarily accept to be trafficked for economic reason. The root causes of this evil trade are poverty, unemployment, ignorance, security lapses, corruption among others. The contemporary Christians in Nigeria have not shown enough zeal or interest in the fight against modern slavery. Modelling the Clapham Christian humanitarians’ approach, the research advocates that influential and wealthy Christians are veritable tools in the fight, using their spiritual convictions, moral conscience and wealth to denounce human trafficking; championing, advocating, and supporting the fight at all levels.