The Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu has called on African leaders to form a united front against human trafficking, ritual abuse, and human sacrifice, as he declared open the Inaugural 2025 Africa Colloquium Against Human Trafficking, currently holding at the Radisson Blu Hotel between Thursday, 23rd to Friday, 24th October, 2025.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, the Governor, represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Barr. Abimbola Salu-Hundeyin, described the colloquium as a defining moment for Africa’s collective conscience, urging governments and communities to work together to dismantle the networks enabling human trafficking and ritual exploitation.
“This evil knows no boundaries. We must confront and defeat the dangerous myths that fuel ritual abuse - myths that wrongly link power or success to the taking of human life. Our people are not for sale, our children are not sacrifices, and our future will never be built on fear or blood,” he said.
Sanwo-Olu reaffirmed the State’s commitment through the Lagos State Task Force Against Human Trafficking, which continues to strengthen prosecution systems, rehabilitate survivors, and raise public awareness in collaboration with NAPTIP and international partners.
Representing the Hon. Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, represented by Ezine Nwokoro, commended the organisers for addressing ritual trafficking, describing it as a “deeply disturbing layer” to human exploitation.
He reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to legislative reforms, stronger partnerships with NAPTIP, and enhanced international cooperation to prevent and prosecute trafficking in persons.
Delivering a keynote speech earlier, Lagos Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Lawal Pedro, SAN, described the colloquium as a “continental call to conscience,” noting that ritual killings and trafficking have become organised, commercialised, and transnational crimes.
“Africa must rise; not in rhetoric but in responsibility, from prevention to prosecution, we must transform policies into laws and laws into action for the protection and rehabilitation of victims”, he said.
He further revealed that between 2022 and 2024, over 4,700 victims of trafficking were rescued and supported in Lagos, while the State enacted the Organ Harvesting Prohibition Law (2024) to tackle the illegal trade in human organs for ritual and exploitative purposes.
The AG appreciated Pepperdine University and the Sudreau Global Justice Institute for their partnership since 2022, noting that Africa “does not lack capacity - only courage, coordination, and conviction.”
Pedro urged stakeholders to make the colloquium a turning point in ending child killings, exploitation, and ritual abuse, affirming Lagos State’s commitment to lead legal reform and collaboration across Africa in the fight against human trafficking.
Delivering her remarks, Director-General of NAPTIP, Binta L. Adamu Bello, OON, represented by the Director, Research and Programme Development, Mr. Josiah Emerole, emphasised the deep-rooted connection between ritual practices and human trafficking across Africa, warning that traffickers increasingly exploit cultural fears and spiritual manipulation to control victims.
“These oaths are enforced not with guns or chains, but with deep-seated cultural fears. Ritual abuse has not disappeared; it has only evolved, crossing borders and complicating trafficking investigations", she said.
Binta urged participants to break the culture of silence, strengthen victim support systems, and promote regional and global collaboration, adding that “the lives of our children, women, and men are too precious to be sacrificed at the altar of greed, culture, or superstition”.
Lagos Solicitor-General and Permanent Secretary, Mr. Hameed Oyenuga, called for a better framework that will protect the most vulnerable children, women and young people from exploitation.
The colloquium, themed: “A United Front Against Ritual Abuse and Sacrifice,” was convened by the Lagos State Ministry of Justice in collaboration with the Sudreau Global Justice Institute of Pepperdine University (USA) and supported by the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP).
The two-day colloquium will feature breakout sessions and discussions on the Foundation and identification of ritual abuse and Sacrifice, Victims and Survivors, Investigation and Prosecution, the role of faith leaders and Community and probable solutions in curbing the menace of Rituals abuse and human trafficking in Africa.
Dignitaries in attendance include, Honourable Speaker, LAHA, Hon. Mudashiru Obasa, represented by Hon. Bonu Solomon; Chief Judge of Lagos State, Hon. Justice Kazeem Alogba; Director, Sudreau Global Justice Institute, Pepperdine University, USA, Prof Camerjon McCollum; Judges, Magistrates, Permanent Secretaries; Attorneys Generals, Rep of Pepperdine University, NAPTIP, DSVA, NCS, NBA, LNSC, NIS, Directors and staff of the Lagos Ministry of Justice.
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