As part of activities to mark the 2022 World Day Against Human Trafficking, the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Person, NAPTIP, Makurdi Zonal Command, has held a sensitization walk with a caution on residents to be mindful of plum job advertorials on social media as traffickers are using technology to lure children into trafficking.
The theme for the 2022 World Day Against Human Trafficking is “Use and Abuse of Technology.”
Speaking during the walk, which started at IBB square and terminated at Benue Links Motor Park, in Wurukum, Makurdi, the Zonal Commander, Makurdi Zonal Command, Mrs Gloria Bai,
Mrs Bai said technology has aided and impeded human trafficking in various ways including the recruitment of victims all over the world through online dating platforms where personal and detailed information of people are readily available and also via social media platforms.
“Traffickers use technology to profile, recruit, control, transport and exploit their victims and is also a means of advertising and connecting victims to a wide range of customers through the internet for sexual services.”
While nothing that traffickers use the internet to track the movements and activities of victims through the GPS software installed on phones, she also stated that technology has enabled and facilitated the posting of fake jobs advertisement, fake scholarships, adverts on non-existing football clubs.
She warned the general public to be careful with what to read on-line, to verify before going for that on-line attractive job offer, football academy adverts and scholarship opportunities, saying “traffickers are using technology to lure our children into trafficking.”
She said under the leadership of the Director General, Dr. Fatima Waziri Azi, NAPTIP is in partnership with Facebook and the National Centre for Missing and Exploited Children, NCMEC, based on United stated of America, to enhance tracing and diligent investigation of all cases relating to online child abuse, human trafficking and other related crimes.
She said with the partnership, NAPTIP will set up “Amber Alert Nigeria” whereby Facebook sends alerts to targeted Facebook community to help find missing children in Nigeria.
Other speakers, the Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice in the state, Mike Gusa, representatives from the Nigeria Immigration Service, NIS, Nigerian Security and Civil Defense Corps, NSCDC, Nigerian Army, Nigerian Air Force, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, Female Medical Association, Non Governmental Organization, NGOs, Eunice Spring of Life Foundation, all commended NAPTIP or their dogged fight against trafficking in the state and pledged to continue to lend their support.
During the walk, staff of NAPTIP led by the commander and their supporters bore placards bearing inscriptions such as, “Say No to Human Trafficking”, “Human Trafficking is A Crime,” “I Am Priceless!!! Say no to Human Trafficking,” “Human traffickers are on Dating Sites. Beware!”, “Beware of Beautiful Social Media Jobs,” among others.