The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons has revealed that Benue State now records the highest number of human trafficking cases in Nigeria.
Director-General of NAPTIP, Mrs Binta Bello, disclosed this during a two-day workshop in Makurdi on Wednesday. She was represented by the agency’s Director of Intelligence, Josiah Emerole.
“Edo used to top the list in human trafficking, but recently Benue overtook them,” Bello said. “Based on the number of rescued victims and arrested suspects, Benue indigenes are higher in number, both from the state and other states in Nigeria.”
She blamed the trend on insecurity in the state, explaining that many children are left vulnerable after their parents are killed. “Children are scattered and sold out, while some are taken to other states to work in quarries, with the people that took them collecting the money,” she said.
Bello said NAPTIP is working to educate children early about the dangers of trafficking. “We are trying to catch the children young and enlighten them about human trafficking so they can understand the red flag when being approached,” she added. She noted that anti-trafficking clubs have been launched in 10 of the 50 schools earmarked under the School Anti-Trafficking Education and Advocacy Project.
She explained that the workshop also equips principals with tools to teach students and their communities about the risks of trafficking.
Principal of Tilley Gyado College Makurdi, Dr Emmanuel Zakaa, who attended the workshop, thanked NAPTIP for the programme. “The initiative has helped my students know the dangers of human trafficking in their clubs,” he said. He added that it was an eye-opener for school heads, guiding them to warn children against accepting help from strangers or even relatives without caution.
The event was organised for principals and vanguards under STEAP in partnership with NAPTIP and the International Centre for Migration Policy Development.
