Tackling emerging trends of human trafficking

Human trafficking has been considered one of the venoms that dampen a country’s growth, considering the fact that after several and deliberate attempts  by the regulatory bodies to curb the distateful menace, the ill persists.

In Nigeria, several cases of trafficking saturate publishing outlets but remain rampant without a permanent solution to tackle the exasperating trend.

Many families now live in palpable fear after which emerging trends occur and different deplorable methods by the traffickers sink the nation.

But, human trafficking does not only take place in the country, even with the effort of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), a worrisome phenomenon. The recent revelation by NAPTIP that over 25,000 trafficked Nigerian women and girls are trapped in Mali has sent shockwaves throughout the nation. The figures presented by NAPTIP reflect the grim reality of human trafficking in Nigeria.

According to the Commander of the Benin Zone of NAPTIP, Nduka Nwanwenne, Nigerian women and girls are enticed to Mali due to the allure of Malian men’s greater spending power and their fascination with Nigerian women.

An instance of two young women and a boy who were rescued from suspected human traffickers by immigration personnel at the Yauri border in Kebbi State. The rescued victims were said to be on their way to Libya through the Ilela border in Sokoto State when they were intercepted.

The two women’s names were given as Rosabeth Udi (24) and Benita Udaje (19) from Delta State, while the boy, Yako Jiji, from Benue State, were being transported to Libya by two men and a woman who claimed to be the victims’ uncles and aunt when immigration officials at the border in Kebbi intercepted them.

Recently, NAPTIP discovered a new form of human trafficking in FCT, where children are being used to beg for alms.

This was made known that unwholesome activities of some human trafficking gangs who specialised in trafficking children and hiring them out for exploitative purposes including begging for alms.

Waziri-Azi revealed that during a routine undercover operation by operatives of the Rapid Response Unit of the agency around Abuja-Nyanya corridors, the operatives intercepted syndicates.

She said that the operatives promptly rescued three children that were allegedly rented out by their mothers to the traffickers to beg for alms at one of the busy spots in the Nyanya area for N3,000 a day per child.

These statistics, along with the alarming number of human traffickers arrested and victims rescued, highlight the urgent need for action to prevent this pervasive crime from claiming more innocent lives. It is embarrassing to note that Nigerian trafficking victims are exploited not only within the borders of their homeland but also far beyond.

In the same vein, no fewer than 80 victims of human trafficking have been treated by the National Agency for Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons and Other Related Matters (NAPTIP) at a medical outreach in Katsina State.

The medical outreach was organised by NAPTIP in collaboration with the International Centre for Migration on Policy Development (ICMPD), under the framework of ‘Strengthening Niger-Nigeria Cooperation on Countering Trafficking in Human Beings.’

The representative of ICMPD at the event, Adeniyi Bakre, said the programme had a target to offer free medical outreach for about 640 victims of human trafficking across some states.

He said that from the first phase of the medical outreach, no fewer than 290 victims of the human trafficking were treated and supported across Abuja, Edo and Lagos.

The Director General of NAPTIP, Prof. Fatima Waziri-Azi, identified Libya, the United Arab Emirates, Ghana, Cote d’Ivoire, and India as the top five countries where Nigerians are trafficked. This sobering revelation demands a comprehensive approach involving bilateral agreements, international cooperation, and increased diplomatic effort.

Increased internet penetration has left more people vulnerable to human trafficking even without them knowing they are being trafficked. This growing act of wickedness to humanity, perhaps, warranted this enlightenment piece.

NAPTIP revealed that most of the human trafficking and adoption crimes in Nigeria are committed by women.

Waziri-Azi who was represented by Arinze Orakwue, expressed sadness over the large number of women who have been involved in trafficking offences in the country.

With the increasing access to internet-enabled devices, most human traffickers have moved their trade to online platforms, targeting vulnerable young persons with mouth-watering and unrealistic promises and offers across the world.

Also, memorandum signed between Nigeria and The Gambia serves as a commendable step in this direction. It aims to prevent, suppress, and punish trafficking in persons, especially women and children. Such collaborations, in the opinion of this newspaper, foster collective strength and enhance the effectiveness of anti-trafficking measures.

But more people are falling into the traps of human traffickers simply because of ignorance or greed. Unfortunately, human trafficking has become an existential threat to global human race.

This newspaper suggests that it is time for the current NAPTIP boss to adopt a more proactive approach to address this pressing issue and put an end to the traction gained by human trafficking. While families may perceive it as an empowerment opportunity due to prevailing socioeconomic challenges, we, however, consider it disconcerting that religious leaders, native doctors, and some traditional rulers encourage such practices.

It is our opinion that strategic sensitization efforts must be intensified, targeting its root causes and socio-economic factors.

Nigeria should implement a comprehensive strategy that encompasses legislation, law enforcement, victim support services, prevention programmes, and public awareness campaigns.

Also, Nigeria and other nations should persistently prioritise these efforts to protect its citizens and shape a brighter future free from the devastating impact human trafficking.