Former Edo State Governor and Senator Adams Oshiomhole has recounted an alleged conversation with an Italian ambassador who reportedly told him that Italian men could not resist women from Edo State during discussions on human trafficking.
Oshiomhole made the revelation during Wednesday’s Senate plenary, arguing that efforts to combat human trafficking must address demand in destination countries, rather than focus solely on those who facilitate the movement of victims from Nigeria.
Recounting the exchange, the senator said he had urged the Italian government to tackle the demand for trafficked women while Nigerian authorities worked to address the supply side.
“I said deal with the demand side so I can deal with the supply side,” Oshiomhole recalled.
According to him, the ambassador responded: “Your Excellency, I’m sorry, Italian people cannot resist Edo girls.”
Oshiomhole said he challenged the remark, insisting that Italian authorities had a responsibility to educate their citizens and discourage demand for trafficked women.
“If they cannot resist, they need the reorientation. Let them deal with Italian people and not Edo people,” he said.
The former governor also claimed that some women involved in the trafficking network travelled through the Italian embassy rather than through Libya, although he provided no further details to substantiate the assertion in the account of his remarks.
He maintained that combating human trafficking required stronger cooperation between the Italian government and Nigerian authorities, particularly in Edo and Akwa Ibom states, which he identified as areas requiring attention.
Oshiomhole argued that the persistence of trafficking was closely linked to demand in destination countries, warning that enforcement efforts would remain inadequate if those creating the demand were not held accountable.
“The law of economics is that without demand there can be no supply. But when demand is strong, supply will find its way,” he added.
