…….IOM, UNODC, FIIAPP PROMISE SUSTAINED SUPPORT



Oluwaseun Trust

Senior Correspondent

Abuja

The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), a foremost counter trafficking Agency in Nigeria, has taken the fight against human trafficking to a global level as it concludes plans to take over the available social media space and online platforms in order to unleash terror on human traffickers across the globe.

The development which will lead to the identification, arrest and prosecution of high profile human traffickers operating across continental corridors, will finally bring about the global consciousness and ensure human trafficker free Nigeria.

Director General of NAPTIP, Dr. Fatima Waziri – Azi, disclosed this Monday in Abuja while addressing the World Press on the activities lined up for the celebration of 2022 World Day Against Human Trafficking.

In statement made available to newsmen shortly after the Press Conference by Mr. Adekoye Vincent, Press Officer of NAPTIP, the Director General was unhappy with the unchecked activities of the human trafficking criminal gangs who recruits, transport exploit and even move proceed of the illicit business across the globe with impunity.

She said, “the United Nations has chosen the theme: “Use and Abuse of Technology” for this year. This theme focuses on the role of technology as a tool that can enable as well as impede human trafficking.



"This theme is timely, couldn’t have come at a better time considering the fact that human traffickers now operate online as much as they operate offline. If COVID has taught us anything, it is the re-enforcement of the need for digital channel of communication which has led to a massive digital transformation.

"The fact remains, while technology has come as a great relief and a major boost in the way of life of people, the same has left much to be concerned because human traffickers have also caught on to this digital transformation. There is a shift from physical recruitment to virtual recruitment through virtual assessment of victims and proxy negotiations.

"The Internet provides easy access to a larger pool of potential victims because geographical limitations no longer exist, thereby increasing the ease with which traffickers can locate and recruit their victims; control and organize transportation for victims, communicate amongst perpetrators, and hide criminal proceeds.

"At NAPTIP, we have seen an increase in fake job advertorials and fake scholarships via social media as Traffickers use it to recruit and cat fish unsuspecting victims. Traffickers also use technology to control their victims. For instance, besides oath taking, they make nude videos of their victims and threaten to share the explicit images online.



"While technology is frequently misused to facilitate trafficking in persons, its positive use helps in combat trafficking and support anti-trafficking work, such as aiding investigations that in turn enhances prosecutions, scaling awareness campaigns, development of technology-based tools that support victims and survivors and enhancing international cooperation.

In her speech, Acting Chief of Mission, International Organization for Migration (IOM) Ms Prestage Murima said “The increasing use of technology post the COVID-19 pandemic has enabled human trafficking with numerous tricks deployed and with greater speed, accuracy and anonymity to recruit, exploit and control victims, organize their transportation and accommodation, advertise victims and reach out to potential clients, communicate among perpetrators and hide criminal proceeds.

“However, in the use of technology also lies great opportunity. Future success in eradicating human trafficking will depend on how law enforcement, the criminal justice system and protection actors can leverage technology in their responses including aiding investigations to shed light on modus operandi of trafficking network.”

She stressed the need for cooperation with the private sector in order to harness innovation and expertise for the development of sustainable technology based solution to support prevention and combating of human trafficking.



Team Leader, Counter Trafficking Programme, United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, Abimbola Adewumi said, “the expanded global usage of technology fostered by the COVID – 19 pandemic has further increased these risks with traffickers using the internet to identify, recruit and control their victims, advertise services and launder the proceeds of their crimes. Raising awareness about these dangers as well as on the opportunities provided by technology in identifying and tracing traffickers and recruiters has been the objective of our collective public outreach.

“NAPTIP 2021 data indicates that cases of suspected human trafficking are being reported across all Nigerian States. Moreover, our most recent data from the UNODC global report indicates that most of the victims detected in West Africa were children (27% boys and 32% girls) and are being trafficked to work on plantations, in mines and quarries, or as street vendors. Traffickers target victims from poor households, dysfunctional families or those who have been abandoned.

 

“Most of these victims, their families and communities can only be reached through communication channels at the grassroots. Therefore, mobilizing the states, local governments and eventually communities is key. On this World Day against Trafficking in Persons, and in the coming days, more activities will be rolled out under the coordination of NAPTIP in collaboration with all partners”, she said.

In his speech, the Institutional Coordinators of FIIAPP in Nigeria, Mr. Jose Nsang said “As the use of technology continues to increase, trafficking facilitated by social media platforms will also continue unless we do more to leverage social media to engage young people, educate users about human trafficking thereby disrupting the activities of traffickers and human smugglers. There is an urgent need to leverage different social media platforms to educate and prevent young people from falling prey to traffickers.



 “Technology has a significant role to play in combating human trafficking. With millions of Nigerians, especially young people that have access to technology devices, it is ideal to teach them how they can use technology tools to detect and disrupt the activities of human traffickers. 

“Unfortunately, technology and social media have opened new avenues for traffickers to recruit victims. Traffickers often groom and control their victims through online platforms. Recruiting victims online is generally much less risky than recruiting victims in person. However, the same technology should be used by law enforcement agents to combat human trafficking. 

“Under the A-TIPSOM Project (funded by the European Union), FIIAPP is strengthening the capacities of law enforcement agencies to tackle human trafficking; and provides technology equipment to enable them to detect and disrupt the activities of human traffickers”, he disclosed.

Activities lined up for the celebration include Premier of a short film title, POUND OF HEART. A film on Organ Harvesting produced by the NAPTIP Drama Club. This Premier will hold on Wednesday, 27th July, 2022, Silverbird Cinema at 1pm, First Stage of the Inter-University Debate on the 2022 theme.: This will involve Students of the Faculty of Law from 4 Private Universities from the FCT and its environs; Baze University; Nile University; Veritas University, and Bingham University. This Stage of the Debate is scheduled to hold on Thursday 28th July, 2022, Rockview Hotel (Classic) at 11:00am.  and Anti-Human Trafficking Awareness Walk in Abuja and across the country will take place on Friday, 29th July, 2022. Take off point in Abuja is Old Parade Ground, Area 10 at 8.00am

Others are Novelty Football Match and Awareness Fitness Exercise and Jogging in collaboration with the Federation of Public Service Games. This will hold on Saturday, 30th July, 2022 at the Practice Pitch of the Moshood Abiola National Stadium at 7.00am, Celebration with Victims of Human Trafficking on Saturday, 30th July, 2022 at the NAPTIP Shelter Abuja and the Grand Finale of the World Day and finals of the Inter- University Debate is scheduled for Monday 1st August, 2022, Ladi Kwali Hall, Abuja Sheraton Hotel and Towers at 10.00am

Cross section of stakeholders have continued to pour encomium on the Director General of NAPTIP, Dr. Fatima Waziri – Azi, for her open door policy and ability to mobilize partners and sustain their collaboration with the Agency in the fight against human trafficking in the Country.