The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons NAPTIP has raised alarm over the increasing rate of trafficking of internally displaced persons to major cities across the country.
NAPTIP Zonal Commander Maiduguri office, Mr. Mansur Ahmed disclosed this at the induction of one hundred and fifty youths as anti-trafficking vanguards in Borno state.
Represented by the Agency’s Chief Intelligence Officer Abubakar Tabra, the Commander said traffickers exploit vulnerability of the IDPs and lured them to some major cities like the Federal Capital Territory Abuja and Lagos for domestic work.
“the IDPs are being lured that there is lucrative job there, there is work for them since they are vulnerable and they will just accept the offer of been trafficked, they will later realise that it a deception, they are being deceived ” Mansur stressed.
The Commander advised the displaced persons not to fall victim of the deception by the traffickers and always contact their camp managers before taking any action.
At a sensitisation programme, Alhaji Mansur Ahmed said trafficking in persons is the second transnational organised crime after illicit drug dealing.
He observed that youth are the primary target of human traffickers, hence the need to enlighten them on the ills of trafficking.
The NAPTIP Zonal Commander expressed determination of the Agency to tackle the growing menace.
Borno state Commissioner for Youth Empowerment and Sports Saina Buba said the government will collaborate with NAPTIP to end human trafficking in the state.
Representative of organizers of the programme and Managing Director Dandal Kura Radio Alhaji Farouq Dalhatu said the one week sensitisation workshop is to expose youth in Borno state on the dangers and ills of human trafficking.
According to him, twelve papers would be presented on tactics and methods deployed by would-be traffickers, religious perspectives to trafficking and how to escape in the event they fall victim.
Cov/Dauda Iliya