Edo: The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) has inaugurated its first Anti-Human Trafficking and Violence Against Persons (A.TIPVAP) Vanguard Club at Egor Secondary School. This initiative, conducted in partnership with the International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD), aims to engage youth in the fight against human trafficking.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the initiative is part of the Schools Anti-Trafficking Education and Advocacy Project (STEAP), which is supported by the Kingdom of Netherlands. Mr. Sam Offiah, Zonal Commander of NAPTIP's Benin Zonal Command, stated that the vanguard club is designed to equip students with knowledge about the methods traffickers use to lure young people into slavery.
Offiah emphasized that traffickers are increasingly using modern technology, shifting their recruitment tactics online where unsuspecting youths are targeted with fake job offers, scholarships, or international travel opportunities. He noted that online trafficking is on the rise, with traffickers operating on the dark web, making it difficult to trace them. However, Offiah believes that peer education can help dismantle their operations from the grassroots.
Elvis Ederibhalo, the Edo Coordinator for STEAP under ICMPD, highlighted that the project, funded by the Netherlands and implemented in five pilot states including Edo, Delta, Enugu, Ogun, and the FCT, focuses on community empowerment. Ederibhalo cautioned that traffickers deceive individuals with false promises, ultimately leading them into modern slavery. He recounted a recent incident where over 100 Nigerian girls were repatriated from C´te d'Ivoire under distressing conditions, having been misled and trafficked.
Dr. Onaifo Osemwengie, principal of Egor Secondary School, expressed that the timing of the initiative is crucial, as students are prime targets for traffickers. He believes the enlightenment campaign provides a vital lifeline for many students.
The event, reported by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), featured a drama presentation by the students, showcasing the inherent dangers of trafficking in persons. In his inaugural address, Nelson Eghaghe, President of the club, stated that the club would serve as a platform for peer education. Members will organize discussions, dramas, and awareness campaigns to educate their peers and families about the social ill.