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‘‘On this World Day Against Trafficking in Person, let us reaffirm our commitment to stop criminals from ruthlessly exploiting people for profit and to help victims rebuild their lives”( Antonio Guterres)

It is important to note that the issue of human trafficking is not peculiar to Nigeria alone but a global social problem because it is an organized crime. According to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) global report on trafficking in persons, trafficking happens all around us as the share of persons trafficked within their own country has doubled in recent years to 58% of all detected victims. The National Agency for Trafficking in Persons, NAPTIP, has intensified efforts to reduce human trafficking to its barest minimum through various campaigns nationwide. These measures have put a halt to the alarming growth rate of trafficked persons within and outside the country, however a lot more needs to be done; between April and November of 2018, 3160 Nigerians were repatriated mostly from Libya. Victims go through all sorts of dehumanizing situations most of them never survive the ordeal and the lucky few who do are hunted by the trauma for the rest of their lives.

In recent times, victims of trafficking are mostly youths from rural areas, victims of insurgencies residing in internally displaced persons camp, (IDPs) and youths and children from low-income families. Trafficking agents are usually familiar with the victim’s family who present enticing and convincing stories. Often times, parents and guardians have no clue of where the victims are as they are given the promise that their wards will always keep in touch and would reside in neighbouring cities. This is not usually the case as most of these victims find themselves across the boarders into countries like Cameroon; Mali; Benin; through the Sahara desert to north African countries such as Libya, and Egypt just to reach European countries such as Italy Spain and recently countries like Malaysia where they are coerced into slavery, organ harvesting, prostitution, domestic work. In most cases, they are to work for a period and make a mandatory payment to the trafficker to earn their freedom back.

July 30th every year marks the world day against trafficking in person, Lets talk humanity initiative is advocating for a communal effort to rid Nigeria of this scourge of human trafficking. We join our voices and align with campaigns of NAPTIP and encourage all our friends and partners to say something when they hear or see something suspicious especially as it relates to trafficking of children; NAPTIP Contact Center and Email,+(234)7030000203, info@naptip.gov.ng are available for prompt investigations and action.