The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons has stated traffickers are weaponising Nigerians’ longing for brighter pastures abroad to attract many victims into modern-day slavery.
Only vigorous efforts of sensitization would, be able to stop the trend, Prof. Fatima Waziri-Azi, the Director-General of NAPTIP, noted this at a town hall discussion with local stakeholders on Monday in Abuja.
The gathering was one of the activities planned to honor the World Day Against Trafficking in Persons in 2024.
Waziri-Azi said, “When people talk about japa and we laugh, it’s not funny. Traffickers have really taken advantage of this. When we talk about human trafficking, as long as we do not deal with the causes in a very strategic way, we keep going around in circles. What are those causes? Socioeconomic and sociopolitical factors, poverty, lack of jobs.
“When I interact with community stakeholders, I tell them that poverty is not a reason to throw caution into to the wind. When somebody comes to sell you a dream that will never be, ask questions.
“But we must continue to give people the right information. So whether NAPTIP, other sister law enforcement agencies, NACTAL, NGOs or CSOs, we have to keep churning out the right information.
“There’s a lot of misinformation and disinformation out there. It’s ridiculous. Somebody comes to you and tells you, ‘come and sell your kidney for X amount of money, your kidney will grow back.’ And people actually believe that? We are privileged to know that those are all lies. But not everyone knows.”
According to her, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, the Federal Capital Territory, the International and Ibero-American Foundation for Administration and Public Policies, the German, Canadian, and British governments, as well as other partners, provided NAPTIP with operational vehicles and other support.
The topic of this year’s World Day Against Human Trafficking, “Leave No Child Behind in the Fight Against Trafficking in Persons,” highlights the urgency and significance of NAPTIP’s work, according to Mr. Josiah Emerole, Director of Intelligence for the organization.
“However, our work is far from over, and as we stand united today, let us in one accord sustain this fight so that, together we can achieve our shared goal of a world where no child is subjected to the horrors of trafficking,” he said.
