NEWS
Prof. Oyeweso Labels ‘Japa’ Syndrome As Modern Day Form Of Slavery
Professor Siyan Oyeweso, from the Department of History and International Studies at Osun State University, has referred to Japa Syndrome as modern day slavery that poses challenges in cessation due to specific reasons.
He conveyed this perspective during the 2023 Summit held by the Centre for General Nigerian Studies (CGNS) at Lagos State University (LASU).
The summit, themed “Diaspora Gains and the Questions of Modern-Day Slavery in Africa,” featured Prof. Oyeweso discussing “From Trans-Saharan Slave Trade to ‘Checking out,’ Sapa, Japa, Japada: Interrogating Issues in Brain Drain, Brain Gain, and Modern Slavery,” where he emphasized the complexities associated with the subject.
According to him: “Diaspora gain and modern-day slavery are two burning fundamental issues and great ills that have continued to beset and shape global human and state relations.
“As the movement of people across national and international borders remains one of the core aspects of the global socio-economic and political value chain, it has become difficult, if not impossible, to take the issue of diaspora and modern-day slavery lightly, given its implications for sustainable growth and development on the African continent.
“This presentation is an academic and practical inquiry into the most urgent problems affecting Africa in the micro and macro space of global population movement. No topic illustrates Africa’s current position in the international system better than the one on issues of slavery, migration, and diaspora. Africa’s history with the wider world is replete with these three fundamental themes.
“The concept and practice of slavery are not only attached to African history, but also the relationship between Africa and the West (the Global North) under the grip of the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade and colonialism reshaped the frontiers and practices of slave trade and slavery, which is now assuming a new dimension.”
Continuing his discussion, Professor Oyeweso emphasized the timeliness of the topic, pointing out its significant implications for population movement, Africans in the Diaspora, and the execution of crucial programs and policies.
He stressed the urgency to eliminate forced labor, eradicate modern slavery and human trafficking, and ensure the prohibition and elimination of the most egregious forms of child labor.
Furthermore, Oyeweso highlighted a notable observation that many ‘japa’ professionals, including radiographers, nurses, and ICT support staff in banks, have departed, contributing to ICT challenges within Nigerian banks due to their absence.
Explaining the context of ‘japa’ and ‘sapa,’ Oyeweso said, “Japa is a continental issue that depicts outward migration of Africans, while sapa is used to describe socio-economic and livelihood hardship that pushes millions of Africans on the move.”
In her statement, Prof. Ibiyemi Olatunji-Bello, the Vice Chancellor of LASU, highlighted the urgency of addressing the significant departure of young Nigerians from the country.
She issued a warning to those contemplating such journeys, urging them to opt for legal pathways and ensure they acquire all essential documents to avert potential pitfalls and prevent the risk of becoming stranded overseas.
“I saw a video few days ago of how some people who moved to Canada were living practically in the open. In severe weather condition. That was because they did not possess the necessary papers for them to get a good start to life over there.
“If our young ones won’t want to stay here to help build the country, they should ensure that they have all the necessary documents before going so that they won’t get there and feel frustrated,” she added
In a shocking incident on Sunday morning, unknown gunmen suspected to be kidnappers invaded the home of Alhaji Auwal, a prominent businessman, in Garo Town, Kabo Local Government Area of Kano State.
The gunmen, estimated to be around 10 in number, forced their way into the residence, breaking down a door to gain entry.
An anonymous source revealed that the attackers were heavily armed, with three carrying firearms and the rest wielding other weapons.
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They quickly gathered the entire family in one room, instilling fear and panic in the household.
According to the source, Alhaji Auwal pleaded with the assailants to spare his family and agreed to meet their demands.
The kidnappers, who were determined to extort money, received ₦8 million from the family.
Despite this payment, the gunmen took the businessman’s eldest daughter, Zainab, a secondary school graduate, before fleeing the scene.
The whereabouts of Zainab remain unknown, and as of now, the kidnappers have not contacted the family.
This abduction comes just 48 hours after the tragic kidnapping and subsequent murder of former Gombe State Permanent Secretary, Atiku Mu’azu, who was killed by gunmen after a ₦10 million ransom was paid.
The two incidents have left the residents of Kano in shock and fear, prompting calls for increased security measures in the area.
Attempts to reach the spokesperson for the Kano Police Command, SP Abdullahi Haruna, for comment were unsuccessful as his phone remained unreachable.
Authorities have yet to make any official statements regarding the investigation.
In a bold move, Colombian President Gustavo Petro declared on Sunday that he would not allow US deportation flights carrying Colombian migrants to access his country’s airspace.
The left-wing leader took to X (formerly Twitter) to express his strong stance, stating, “The United States cannot treat Colombian migrants as criminals. I forbid entry to our territory to US planes carrying Colombian migrants.”
Petro made it clear that such flights would only be accepted once Washington established a protocol to ensure the “dignified treatment” of deported migrants.
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The president later confirmed in a separate post that he had already turned back US military planes that were en route with Colombian migrants on board, although he did not provide further specifics on the matter.
While AFP sought confirmation from US authorities regarding the blockade of deportation flights, no immediate response was forthcoming.
Petro’s statements come just a day after Brazil’s government voiced similar outrage over the treatment of deported Brazilians.
Brazil condemned the US administration under President Donald Trump, citing instances where Brazilian migrants were deported while handcuffed on flights, describing it as a “flagrant disregard” for their basic rights.
In his remarks, Petro emphasized that he would be open to allowing civilian US flights to transport deported migrants as long as they were not subjected to treatment “like criminals,” signaling a broader call for humane treatment of migrants under international deportation policies.
An explosion at a mining site in Sabon Pegi, Mashegun Local Government Area of Niger State, claimed the lives of four individuals and left several others injured on Sunday morning.
The blast occurred as miners resumed operations, sending shockwaves through the community.
While the exact cause of the explosion remains undetermined, local residents have pointed to the poor handling of explosive devices by mining companies as a possible factor.
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The incident has sparked concerns about safety practices within the mining sector.
Community sources confirmed the recovery of four bodies, but authorities fear the death toll could rise.
Investigations are ongoing to establish the cause of the blast and assess the full extent of the damage.
One resident, Aminu, described the chaos that followed the explosion. “The sound was so loud that many of us thought it came from the hydroelectricity dam nearby. People panicked and ran into the bush for safety,” he recounted.
Another community member highlighted the potential role of mining operations in the tragedy.
“Mining companies here frequently use explosives during their activities, and this seems like an operational issue, not something related to terrorism,” the resident said, dismissing concerns about a security threat in the area.
As of the time of reporting, neither the state government nor security agencies have released an official statement regarding the explosion.
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