Senator Adams Oshiomhole on Tuesday recounted a conversation in which an Italian ambassador told him that Italian men “cannot resist Edo girls,” during a Senate discussion on tackling human trafficking.
The former Edo State governor made the disclosure while urging both the Nigerian and Italian governments to address the demand and supply sides of the problem.
Oshiomhole said he had met the Speaker of the Italian Parliament, who promised technical assistance to Edo State to reduce the supply of trafficking victims. He told the Italian official that Italy must also discourage its citizens from patronising trafficked women.
“I know I met with the Speaker of the Italian Parliament, who said he was going to give Edo some technical assistance to deal with the issue of supply, and I told her that in history we don’t demand the supply,” Oshiomhole said.
“So the Italian government should do whatever they can to discourage their men or others, because these people didn’t go through Libya. They went through the Italian embassy.”
He argued that Edo and Akwa Ibom states could address supply if Italy tackled demand, citing economic principles.
“The law of economics is that without demand, there will be no supply, but when demand is strong, supply will find its way. So I think this really is a national problem,” he said.
Oshiomhole added that when he pressed the Italian ambassador on the demand side, the diplomat replied: “Your Excellency, I’m sorry, Italian people cannot resist Edo girls.”
The senator said he responded that Italian men needed reorientation rather than placing the burden solely on Nigerian communities.
“If they cannot resist, they need the reorientation. Let them deal with Italian people and not Edo people,” he said.
He warned that Nigeria should not be viewed internationally as a source of human trafficking and called for action against organised groups abroad that facilitate the trade.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio interjected, asking Oshiomhole whether he had inquired what Italians found attractive in Edo women.
“Seriously, just for the benefit of my colleagues, did you try to find out what the Italians found in the Edo girls?” Akpabio asked.
Oshiomhole replied: “I couldn’t do that because I’m a Catholic and I’m happily married.”
Akpabio later spoke about stronger enforcement of anti-kidnapping and anti-trafficking laws, recalling that as Akwa Ibom governor he signed legislation prescribing the death penalty for kidnapping and the demolition of properties used in such crimes. He called for better rehabilitation of returning victims and a review of existing laws, including the Trafficking in Persons Act.
The Senate adopted recommendations to strengthen enforcement and rehabilitation measures.
