Author / donnedibenincitypalermo

by donnedibenincitypalermo

20703/2018 – REDATTORE SOCIALE – Nigeria, vietati i riti vudù che vincolano le donne alla tratta

LINK:  Facebook966 Twitter Google+ Nigeria, vietati i riti vudù che vincolano le donne alla tratta

A Benin city è accaduto un fatto storico che potrebbe liberare molte ragazze vittime della tratta: l’Oba Ewuare II, la massima autorità religiosa del popolo Edo, ha convocato i sacerdoti della religione tradizionale juju e ha formulato un editto in cui revoca tutti i riti vudù che vincolano le ragazze trafficate, obbligando i sacerdoti a non praticarne più

In Nigeria, a Benin city, nell’Edo State, e’ accaduto un fatto storico che potrebbe liberare molte ragazze vittime della tratta a scopo di sfruttamento sessuale: l’Oba (che vuol dire ‘re’) Ewuare II, ossia la massima autorita’ religiosa del popolo Edo (che vive in Nigeria e nella zona del delta del Niger), ha convocato nei giorni scorsi tutti i sacerdoti della religione tradizionale juju e, in una cerimonia solenne, ha formulato un editto in cui revoca tutti i riti vudu’ di giuramento che vincolano le ragazze trafficate, obbligando i sacerdoti juju a non praticarne piu’.

Come spiega tra gli altri anche l’emittente Enews Channel Africa, questa decisione potrebbe evitare che migliaia di ragazze nigeriane vengano costrette a prostituirsi in Europa – e’ noto il fenomeno in Italia – per ripagare il debito contratto con i trafficanti, che si aggirerebbe tra i 20 e i 40 mila euro. La maggior parte di queste donne proviene infatti dallo Edo State. Un passo importante insomma, in quanto verrebbe meno quella paura che molte di loro confidano di avere nel denunciare i loro aguzzini, liberandosi cosi’ dalla condizione di schiavitu’. L’accordo stretto durante quei riti obbliga infatti la ragazza a non tradire mai il trafficante, nella convinzione che farlo condurra’ alla pazzia o addirittura alla morte.

“Questa cerimonia e’ un fatto di portata storica, che puo’ avere implicazioni enormi.Potrebbe incrementare il numero di denunce contro i trafficanti ed aiutarle a liberarsi”, spiega al Sir da Benin city Francesca De Massi, responsabile di una casa-rifugio della cooperativa Befree contro la tratta, la violenza e la discriminazione. Ewuare II e’ una figura molto autorevole, che ha ricoperto gli incarichi di ambasciatore della Nigeria in Angola, Svezia e Italia e ha lavorato alle Nazioni Unite. Fin dal suo insediamento nel 2016 ha collaborato con il governatore dell’Edo State e con l’agenzia locale contro la tratta di persone. “La sua presa di posizione e’ importantissima- prosegue De Massi- Sono molto ottimista sugli effetti di questa cerimonia”. Da quel giorno l’attivista riceve continue telefonate dall’Italia: “Le ragazze mi chiedono se e’ vero, sono felicissime, stanno festeggiando”. Negli anni, a causa della crescente domanda da parte di clienti italiani, le cifre della tratta di ragazze nigeriane sono esplose: “Dal 2014 ad oggi- ricorda- c’e’ stato un incremento del 600%. Nel 2016 ne sono arrivate 11mila”. Anche secondo suor Gabriella Bottani, coordinatrice della rete delle religiose anti-tratta Talitha kum “la condanna dell’Oba di Benin city puo’ innescare un cambiamento positivo”. (AGENSIR/DIRE)

by donnedibenincitypalermo

13/03/18 – PMNEWS NIGERIA – Human Trafficking: Oba Of Benin Places Curses​ On Sorcerers, Cultists

LINK: Human Trafficking: Oba Of Benin Places Curses On Sorcerers, Cultists

Sorcerers paying homahe to Oba Ewuare II

By Jethro Ibileke/Benin

The Benin Monarch, Oba Ewuare II, on Friday assembled sorcerers and top magic-practising priests of the Kingdom to place curses on native doctors and herbalists and all others who aid human traffickers by administering oaths of secrecy on their victims.

Also cursed were kidnappers, violators of the order banning Community Development Associations and others whose business is to initiate sons and daughters of the kingdom into various cult groups.

Those who carried out the swearing exercise were the Ohen Okhuae, Ohen Ovia, Ohen n’Oriyekeogba, Ohen Ake, Ohen Niwuo, Native Doctors, Ohen Sango, Odionwere, Iwueki and the Enigies.

It would also be recalled that the Director-General of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), Dame Julie Okah-Donli, had during a visit to the Benin monarch a few weeks ago, disclosed that the agency found it difficult to prosecute offenders because the victims were not willing to come to court to testify against their traffickers due to the oaths of secrecy administered on them.

Oba Ewuare in his remark during the ceremony said those aiding and abetting human trafficking through the use of black magic and subjecting them to the oaths of secrecies should desist from it henceforth or face the wrath of the gods.

“You native doctors whose business is to subject people to the oath of secrecies and encouraging this evil act on the land, you have to repent, stop doing it. This is not a joking matter and if you do not repent, you have to wait for the repercussion,” he said.

The Monarch noted that the palace is not against those practising sorcery but seriously frowned at those who use it to perpetrate evil in the land through aiding and abetting human trafficking in the State.

He said henceforth those who were under oaths of secrecy administered on them by human traffickers had been set free and at liberty to air their views and reveal their sponsors without fear of any harm from their sponsors.

“We want to use this medium to tell those who are under any oaths of secrecy that they are now free. We revoke the oaths today,” he said.

The Royal father said the interest of the palace was to work for the development and progress of the State, adding that all hands must be on deck to work towards that direction by doing what is right.

“What the Palace stands for is peace and the development of the state. I want to use this medium to tell you that the act of using charms to aid trafficking, the palace seriously frowns at it.

“We want us to join hands together to fight against human trafficking in the land,” he said, noting that there had been positive reports about Edo State and that such positive reports must be sustained.

The Oba who disclosed that the State Governor, Mr Godwin Obaseki, pleaded with him to help reduce the spate of human trafficking in the State, added that before now, he has been in the vanguard against human trafficking in the State.

Meanwhile, the Director-General of NAPTIP, Dame Julie Okah-Donli, has hailed the Benin Monarch, Oba Ewuare II, for placing curses on human traffickers and their collaborators.

Speaking to our correspondent at the palace of the Benin Monarch, Okah-Donli, who was represented by the Edo State Commander of NAPTIP, Barr. Nduka Nwawwenne expressed confidence that the curse placed on those aiding and abetting human trafficking will reduce the scourge of trafficking in persons.

She added that the agency hoped it would witness improved prosecution of trafficking offenders henceforth.

“The major reason is that victims of human trafficking who are supposed to give evidence in court don’t usually open up because of the oath of secrecy they have taken.

“These oaths are taken with some personal items like fingernails, pubic hair, menstrual pads, pictures, clothing and things like that. They are also told that the moment they open up and reveal their traffickers, they will be punished by the oaths they have taken.

“So, because of that, we are not able to get enough evidence to prosecute suspected traffickers.

“With the pronouncement of His Royal Majesty today, I think a giant stride has been taken and am sure that people will now open up, because, in the first place, oaths will not be administered on them [trafficking victims].

“I believe that now those curses have been placed on them, His Royal Majesty has forgiven those that administered it previously. So, I believe in it.

“Since the Oba is highly revered, am sure that the juju priests and native doctors will comply with what Oba has pronounced. Am sure that victims will now open up and most importantly, they will not be taken to shrines to be administered with oaths,” Okah-Donli said.

by donnedibenincitypalermo

13/03/18 – SANCARABLOG – L’oba del Benin contro il traffico di esseri umani

LINK: L’oba del Benin contro il traffico di esseri umani

Ha destato grande interesse negli ambienti nigeriani (e non solo) il pronunciamento dell’oba del Benin, Ewuare II, contro la tratta di esseri umani. L’oba ha chiesto ai “medici nativi” di revocare i giuramenti già posti della vittime di tratta svicolando così le donne dalle maledizioni poste in essere dai riti celebrati. Una notizie che interessa tutte le giovani donne nigeriane giunte in Italia negli ultimi anni e costrette alla prostituzione. Ma, vediamo con ordine cosa è successo.
L’oba è nella cultura del popolo Edo (popolazione dell’Africa occidentale ed in particolare del delta del Niger in Nigeria) un re e un capo religioso. Il nome  oba (che in molte lingue locali significa re) entrò in uso nel XIII secolo con Eweka I, considerato il fondatore del Regno del Benin. Il ruolo – oggi molto più religioso e culturale  che politico (gli inglesi sul finire del 1800 decretarono la fine all’Impero del Benin)  – si tramanda da allora ed oggi a ricoprirlo èEheneden Erediauwa (Ewuare II) nato nel 1953 e “incoronato” il 20 ottobre 2016. Ewuare ha studiato in un college a Benin City, poi a Londra, poi a Cardiff (laurea in Economia) e infine in New Jersey dove ha conseguito un Master in Pubblica Amministrazione. Ha lavorato alle Nazioni Unite dal 1981 al 1982 ed è stato ambasciatore di Nigeria in Angola, Svezia ed in Italia. Sin dal suo insediamento l’oba ha strettamente collaborato con il Governatore dell’Edo State, Godwin Obaseki, eletto il 12 novembre 2016. Alcuni giorni fa l’oba ha chiamato a raccolta (ecco il link del video della cerimonia) tutti i medici tradizionali formulando una sorta di “editto” in cui li obbliga a non mettere in atto giuramenti rituali (che in Italia conosciamo genericamente come riti vudù o jujù) checostringono giovani donne nigeriane a restituire soldi ad organizzazioni criminali che le portano in Europa (ed in particolare in Italia) a prostituirsi. Allo stesso tempo l’editto libera (anche con azione retroattiva) le donne dal vincolo e le mette nelle condizioni di denunciare i criminali. Infatti, l’oba, ha anche pronunciato parole molto dure contro le confraternite che sono alla base della mafia nigeriana che gestisce da decenni il traffico di esseri umani allo scopo di sfruttamento nel mondo della prostituzione e strettamente connesso con lo spaccio di stupefacenti. Il ruolo dei medici nativi è quello di svolgere, a pagamento, riti che impegnano la ragazza e la sua famiglia alla restituzione del debito accumulato per arrivare in Europa (tra i 20 e i 40 mila euro) pena l’arrivo di maledizioni di ogni genere. Giocando sulla credenza, sull’ignoranza e sul potere acquisito i medici nativi vincolano le vittime a non parlare del proprio giuramento e a restituire fino all’ultimo centesimo il loro debito La prostituzione nigeriana in Italia ha subito un’impennata negli ultimi tre-quattro anno, che hanno visto crescere (grazie anche all’assurdo e favorente  sistema italiano di protezione internazionale) a dismisura le donne “importate” dalla Nigeria. Solo nel 2016 ne sono giunte in Italia 11.006.
E’ un fatto sicuramente importante che risponde, come ha avuto modo di dire l’oba, alla richiesta forte  della comunità internazionale (e solo in parte di quella, distratta, nigeriana) rivolta ai sistemi informali (quelli appunto dei medici tradizionali, degli stregoni e dei ciarlatani nigeriani) di contribuire di mettere fine alla tratta di esseri umani. Bisognerà aspettare gli effetti, se effetti ci saranno, di questa presa di posizione dell’oba del Benin. Nei prossimi mesi scopriremo se al già ridotto numero di nuovi arrivi degli ultimi mesi del 2017 e dei primi del 2018 (effetti della politica del governo italiano) si aggiungerà anche un effetto – sicuramente più positivo – di mancanza di nuova carne da macello da inserire nel ghiotto mercato italiano. Così sarà interessante capire se le ragazze nigeriane – già in Italia o in Europa da tempo – svincolate dal loro giuramento saranno capaci di collaborare con la giustizia e di permettere l’arresto dei criminali che gestiscono un business così redditizio.
Sicuramente trema una parte della comunità residente nigeriana in Italia che ricava importanti utili dai servizi offerti alle “ragazze di strada” (dalle ospitalità alle necessità logistiche o dei servizi, quando non il diretto guadagno su una parte del debito).
Sicuramente l’atto dell’oba è coraggioso, perché in definitiva, toglie una parte importante dei guadagni ai medici nativi e in qualche modo ne delegittima l’azione. Così come si mette deliberatamente contro alle potente confraternite che da decenni infiammano criminalmente la vita quotidiana in Nigeria. Certo ancora si fa fatica a scardinare una rete di credenze e di ignoranza, di pregiudizi e di complicità, che anche attraverso l’uso di rituali e pratiche di stregonerie, contribuiscono a fare restare in un forte oblio la popolazione nigeriana a vantaggio di criminali e politici corrotti.
Oltre ai post indicati dai link è possibile approfondire anche con questo link  di Sancara “Nigeria in Italia, alcuni numeri“
by donnedibenincitypalermo

10/03/17 – THE GUARDIAN NGR – Oba of Benin moves against human traffickers, cultists

LINK:  Oba of Benin moves against human traffickers, cultists

The Oba of Benin Omo N’Oba N’Edo Uku Akpolokpolo Oba Ewuare II, has placed a curse on perpetrators of human trafficking and their collaborators including native doctors and priests who administer the oath of secrecy on victims.

The Oba placed the curse yesterday in Benin City while meeting with Enogie, Edionwere, and priests of different deities in Benin and native doctors at his palace.

Others, who attended the meeting, are senior and junior priests of Okhuaihe, senior and junior priests of Ovia, all priests in Iyekogba, all priests of Ake, all priestesses and native doctors as well as market women leaders.

He said the oath of secrecy administered on the victims has been encouraging the illegal trade called on all native doctors to shun the act and join hands with the palace to attract development and progress to the kingdom.

“It is reported that at the beginning the traffickers take their victims to native doctors to take an oath that they will not disclose the names of their traffickers and sponsors.

“Your power is to fight for the progress of Benin kingdom and not to be used for the destruction of our young people”.

He also invoked his power as the spiritual leader of Benin kingdom nullified all the oaths of secrecy administered on all victims of human trafficking and urged them to speak out and seek assistance.

While disclosing that statistics from relevant agencies reveal that most of those trafficked in Nigeria are from Benin, Oba Ewuare deplored the practice where gainfully employed artisans sell their working tools to pay their traffickers.

“We have some people gainfully employed as mechanics, welders, tailors, selling their working tools to pay traffickers to take them to Italy, Germany.

“Those, who traffic people to Italy, Germany and other countries first take them to Libya where they are enslaved”.

He urged the native doctors to tell all victims of human trafficking to speak out as all oaths of secrecy have been nullified.

“From today, we no longer want to hear of human trafficking in Benin. I hope those who have been involved in this illegal trade will stop from today.

“All native doctors who have administered the oath of secrecy on victims of human trafficking should also tell those they administered such oath on to speak out.

“Am appealing to all native doctors to stop administering such oaths on trafficked victims and all such oaths are hereby nullified.

“No native doctor should do any charm for any potential illegal migrant to cross the international border. Those who did it before now are forgiven and whoever does it from today will face the wrought of our ancestors”, the monarch warned.

Speaking with newsmen after the royal pronouncement, zonal commander, National Agency for the Prohibition in Trafficking in Persons, NAPTIP, Barrister Nduka Nwanwennee pointed out that the Oba’s intervention is a significant milestone in the war against human trafficking and illegal migration.

“Before now, victims of human trafficking rarely open up to give evidence in court because of they have taken. They are afraid and believe that the oath will have an effect on them as the native doctors who administered such oaths have their personal items like fingernails, pubic hair, menstrual pads, pants, photographs etc.

“Now that those oaths have been nullified by the monarch, our power of prosecution has been enhanced and we can now rescue more victims,” he said.

by donnedibenincitypalermo

10/03/18 – THE NATION NGR – Human trafficking: Oba of Benin forces native doctors to revoke curses placed on victims

LINK: Human trafficking: Oba of Benin forces native doctors to revoke curses placed on victims

Posted By: Osagie OTABOR, Benin 

Edo State victims of human trafficking can now call the bluff of agents who threaten them with dire consequences of oaths sworn to in the process of taking them abroad.

The oaths which are often administered by native doctors engaged by the agents were reversed yesterday by the same native doctors.

The oath reversal was at the instance of the Benin monarch, Oba Ewuare II, at a special meeting in his palace to stop human trafficking in the state which comes tops in the illegal act in Nigeria.

An oath taking process ,according to victims, involve the invocation of parts of their bodies as collateral to force them pay back the money spent by the agents to take them  mainly to Europe where they end up as prostitutes.

Hundreds of native doctors converged on the Oba of Benin palace yesterday to heed the monarch’s call.

Oba Ewuare 11 said Governor Godwin Obaseki had pleaded with him to help reduce the spate of human trafficking in the state.

The state, he pointed out, has had enough of the embarrassment that comes with human trafficking and it is time to put an immediate end to it.

He said while the palace has nothing against the practice of native medicine, it will not condone a situation where it is used to “perpetrate evil in the land through aiding and abetting human trafficking.”

He said: “You native doctors whose business is to subject people to oath of secrecy and encouraging evil act in the land, you have to repent, stop doing it.

“This is not a joking matter and if you do not repent, you’ll see the repercussions.”

He cursed human traffickers and native doctors who subject Benin sons and daughters to oaths of secrecy, initiate them into cults or encourage violation of the order banning Community Development Associations.

He warned that anyone persisting should be ready to face the wrath of the gods.

He then directed the native doctors present to revoke the curses and oaths already placed on trafficked victims.

The Benin Monarch declared: “We want to use this medium to tell those who are under any oath of secrecy that they are now free. We revoke the oath today.

“What the palace stands for is peace and the development of the state. I want to use this medium to tell you that the act of using charms to aid trafficking, the palace seriously frowns at it.

“We want us to join hands together to fight against human trafficking in the land.”

Those who took part in the swearing exercise were priests from various shrines in the state such as the Ohen Okhuae, Ohen Ovia, Ohen noriyekeogba, Ohen Ake, Ohen Niwuo, native doctors, Ohen Sango,  Odionwere, Iwueki and the  Enigies.

by donnedibenincitypalermo

10/03/18 – LAILA NEWS – See the ‘Juju’ Oba of Benin used to revoke curses at the palace yesterday

LINK: See the ‘Juju’ Oba of Benin used to revoke curses at the palace yesterday

by Laila Ijeoma

 

Screen Shot 2018-05-07 at 14.30.38Screen Shot 2018-05-07 at 14.30.46

 

According to reports, the last time the Ososomaye was brought out into the open was about 400 years ago.

The Oba of Benin, Oba Ewuare 11, yesterday placed a curse on people engaged in human trafficking in Edo state. Others that were cursed by the Monarch are the native doctors who administer the oath of secrecy on victims. The Oba and his palace chiefs asserted that the gods of Benin Kingdom would destroy those involved in the illicit trade.

The traditional Palace Juju ‘Ososomaye’ of Great Benin kingdom was reportedly brought out for the first time yesterday to face the sun in the presence of all Palace chiefs, native doctors and women leaders who witnessed the traditional occasion.

According to reports, the last time the Ososomaye was brought out into the open was

about 400 years ago. And according to the tradition of the Benin Kingdom, anytime the Ososomaye sees the sun, it does not fail to carry out any assignment it is deployed to run. It is reported that anyone that suffers from the curse of the Ososomaye will not only be affected but his generations will also be jinxed.

Tradition has it that the last time it was deployed and brought out to see the sun was during the reign of Oba Ewuare 1.

The ‘Ososomaye’ is what all the spiritual heads in Edo kingdom report to.

The Osososmaye was paraded before the Kings and the Place chiefs in the presence of the media. The Oba of Benin then revoked the curses placed on victims of human trafficking; while curses were placed on human traffickers, cultists and cult activities and land grabbers in Benin kingdom henceforth.

According to reports, Edo state tops the list of the states within the country with the highest rate of human trafficking. Victims are subjected to all sorts of rituals and oaths and curses are sometimes place on them if they renege on the agreement they have with the trafficker.

 
by donnedibenincitypalermo

09/03/18 – DAILY POST NIGERIA – Edo native doctors revoke curses placed on trafficked victims

LINK: Edo native doctors revoke curses placed on trafficked victims

By 

The Benin monarch, Oba Ewuare II, on Friday forced the native doctors in Edo state to revoke the curses and oaths placed on the trafficked victims of human trafficking in the state.

Many victims of human trafficking are usually made to swear to oaths and some of their body parts collected as collateral to make them pay back the money used to sponsor them.

After the revocation of curses, the Benin Monarch declared that the trafficked victims were now free from their traffickers and whatever oaths they were placed on.

Oba Ewuare II also placed a curse in human traffickers and those aiding and abetting human trafficking in the state.

He cursed the native doctors who subject victims to oath of secrecies, violators of the order banning Community Development Associations and others whose business is to initiate the sons and daughters of the land into various cult groups.

Those who took part in the swearing exercise were priests from various shrines in the state such as the Ohen Okhuae, Ohen Ovia, Ohen noriyekeogba, Ohen Ake, Ohen Niwuo, Native Doctors, Ohen Sango, Odionwere, Iwueki and the Enigies.

Oba Ewuare II warned those aiding and abetting human trafficking through the use of black magic and subjecting them to the oath of secrecies to desist from the act or face the wrath of the gods.

He declared that those under oath of secrecies have been set free and at liberty to air their views as well as reveal their sponsors without fear of any harm from their sponsors.

The Benin Monarch stated the interest of the palace was to work for the development and progress of the state and urged all his subjects to work towards that direction by doing what is right.

His words, “You native doctors whose business are to subject people to the oath of secrecies and encouraging this evil act on the land, you have to repent, stop doing it. This is not a joking matter and if you do not repent, you have to wait for the repercussion”, he said.

“The palace is not against those practicing the act of native doctors but those who use it to perpetrate evil in the land through aiding and abetting human trafficking in the state.

“We want to use this medium to tell those who are under any oaths of secrecies that they are now free. We revoke the oath today.

“What the Palace stands for is peace and the development of the state. I want to use this medium to tell you that the act of using charms to aid trafficking, the palace seriously frowns at it.

“We want us to join hands together to fight against human trafficking in the land”, he said.

He said there have been positive reports about Edo State and that such positive report must be sustained.

The Oba said the state governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki has pleaded with him to help reduce the spate of human trafficking in the state adding that before now, he has been in the vanguard against human trafficking in the state.

by donnedibenincitypalermo

07/04/2018 – REPUBBLICA – Un editto annulla il ricatto voodoo. “Adesso aiutate le donne a lasciare la strada”

Per le ragazze nigeriane vittime della tratta è un fatto epocale. L’Oba (che vuol dire re), Ewuare II, ossia la massima autorità religiosa dell’Edo State in Nigeria, qualche settimana fa ha convocato tutti i sacerdoti della religione tradizionale juju e, in una cerimonia solenne a Benin City che negli ultimi anni è diventata una sorta di capitale del sesso da esportazione, ha formulato un editto in cui ha revocato tutti i riti vudù che vincolano le ragazze ai loro sfruttatori, obbligando i sacerdoti juju a non praticarne più in futuro.Screen Shot 2018-04-08 at 19.03.52

La notizia è arrivata anche a Palermo. Genitori e parenti hanno contattato dalla Nigeria le ragazze per comunicare la notizia, alcuni video stanno facendo il giro del web da giorni e anche la chiesa pentecostale sul territorio si sta facendo portavoce di questo messaggio. Così tante ragazze nigeriane sono scappate dalle case in cui erano costrette a prostituirsi e hanno chiesto aiuto. Sono già una ventina dopo l’editto del “re”.

«Significa che le ragazze sono libere — dice Osas Egbon, referente dell’associazione Donne di Benin City che si batte per offrire un’alternativa a chi non riesce a uscire dal giro — Perché senza vudù non hanno più motivo di rimanere legate alle loro “maman”. Stiamo cercando di diffondere il più possibile questo messaggio. Purtroppo, però, chi scappa non ha un posto dove andare e la strada è sempre lì dietro l’angolo. Adesso che il “re” ci ha dato la forza, chiediamo anche alle istituzioni di fare la loro parte». L’associazione chiede, per esempio, di poter gestire qualche struttura per accogliere in un luogo protetto le ragazze che, forti dell’editto, si lasceranno la loro vecchia vita alle spalle. L’editto del “re” nasce dalla degenerazione del fenomeno della tratta delle ragazze nigeriane che sono sempre di più e sempre più giovani. Tantissime minorenni. Soltanto a Palermo sono oltre 500 e reggono la metà del giro della tratta in città. In nome di un rito vudù diventano schiave per anni, a volte per tutta la loro vita, perché credono che infrangendo il patto del rito moriranno o sarà fatto del male a qualche loro parente.«Soltanto se si trovano dei luoghi sicuri per le ragazze le cose potranno davvero cambiare — dice Nino Rocca della rete sociale a sostegno della lotta alla tratta — Bisogna cavalcare questo momento favorevole in cui anche la massima autorità della Nigeria che è stata anche ambasciatore in Italia si è esposta su questo tema. Non si può più tornare indietro». Il 14 aprile al centro Santa Chiara dell’Albergheria ci sarà una grande festa per condividere con la città questa svolta. E, intanto, sono tante le ragazze che in queste settimane si sono rivolte allo sportello dell’associazione Donne di Benin City al Teatro Montevergini per chiedere aiuto. «Facciamo tutto quello che possiamo per aiutarle — dice Egbon — cerchiamo di metterle in guardia sui rischi che corrono. Tante hanno anche bambini e chiedono di poter vivere al sicuro, niente altro».