Senator Adams Oshiomhole has called on Italy to address demand for trafficked Nigerian women, recounting an alleged conversation in which an Italian ambassador told him that Italian men could not resist Edo women.
The Edo North senator made the disclosure during Senate plenary on Tuesday while discussing efforts to combat human trafficking and the need for Nigeria and Italy to tackle both the demand for and supply of victims.
A video of the exchange surfaced online on Thursday.
Oshiomhole said he had earlier met with the Speaker of the Italian Parliament, who promised technical assistance to Edo State to address the supply side of human trafficking.
He said he told the Italian official that efforts to stop trafficking should not focus only on communities from which victims are recruited, but should also address people who patronise trafficked women in destination countries.
“I know I met with the Speaker of the Italian Parliament, who said she 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,” he said.
Oshiomhole said he made a similar argument during a conversation with the Italian ambassador, who allegedly responded: “Your Excellency, I’m sorry, Italian people cannot resist Edo girls.”
Oshiomhole Calls for Action Against Demand
Reacting to the alleged remark, the former Edo State governor said Italian authorities should educate their citizens and discourage them from patronising trafficked women.
“If they cannot resist, they need the reorientation. Let them deal with Italian people and not Edo people,” he said.
Oshiomhole argued that Edo and Akwa Ibom states could work to address the recruitment and supply of victims if the Italian government took corresponding action against demand in its territory.
“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.
He also called for action against organised groups operating abroad that facilitate the trafficking of Nigerian women, warning against placing the responsibility for the crime solely on communities in Nigeria.
Akpabio Reacts to Oshiomhole’s Account
The discussion took a lighter turn when Senate President Godswill Akpabio asked Oshiomhole whether he had tried to find out what Italian men found appealing about 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.”
Senate Seeks Stronger Anti-Trafficking Measures
Beyond the exchange, senators called for stronger enforcement of existing laws against human trafficking, improved investigations and better rehabilitation support for victims returning to Nigeria.
The debate also highlighted the need to enforce the Trafficking in Persons (Prohibition) Enforcement and Administration Act, 2015, and the Child Rights Act, 2003.
Oshiomhole’s argument was that Nigeria’s efforts to prevent the recruitment and movement of victims must be matched by action in countries where trafficked persons are exploited.
Human trafficking involves criminal networks that recruit, transport and exploit vulnerable people. Tackling the crime therefore requires cooperation between countries of origin and destination, prosecution of traffickers and protection for victims.
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