By Francis Onoiribholo Bureau Chief, Benin
No fewer than 50 human traffickers have been convicted by the Benin Zonal Command of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Traffic in Persons and Other Related Matters (NAPTIP) since its inception.
Emmanuel Uduaghan Adams Oshiomhole
The Benin zonal command of the agency covering Edo and Delta states has also embarked on campaign to sensitise secondary school students on the various tricks of traffickers and has in the last one week sensitised over 10,000 students in nine secondary schools in the two states.
The sensitisation campaign programme, which is being carried out by the agency in collaboration with the Prisoners’ Rehabilitation and Welfare Action (PRAWA), is part of the activities lined up by the agency for post-primary institutions in urban and rural areas in the Benin zonal command.
The Benin zonal commander of NAPTIP, Mrs. Oluchi Cordelia Ebiringa, said the programme was being targeted for the forthcoming Easter celebration and second term holidays for students in secondary schools because according to her, “it is common knowledge that traffickers often take advantage of the festive period to harvest promising young boys and girls for prostitution and other wicked purposes.”
She, however, expressed sadness over the activities of human traffickers and their agents in the two states, who she said have shifted their operations to rural areas taking the advantage of the vulnerability of youth such areas.
According to her, “The life of every student, youth, man and woman is very dear to the heart of the agency and our executive secretary and this is why we have decided to make it tough for these criminal minded individual whose means of livelihood is the exploitation of our children.
“In this strategic sensitisation programme rolled out by the command, we shall focus on schools, markets, places of worship and even community squares in rural areas of Edo and Delta states, which are the target of traffickers.
“We are also using this sensitisation programme to warn those planning to be involved directly or indirectly in the act of recruitment, transportation, harbouring and exploitation of victims, and this is why we shall be enlisting the support of all stakeholders, including school teachers, clergymen, farmers, market women, youth leaders, herbalists and others in this crusade.
She added, “Apart from the over 50 persons the command has convicted in Edo and Delta states since its inception, many victims of human trafficking have been rescued, trained, rehabilitated and empowered.”
The Benin zonal commander of NAPTIP urged the students to shun the deceit of human traffickers, who play on the ignorance of victims to lure them into trafficking.
She also advised them to take their education seriously as future leaders of the country and avoid being deceived by traffickers.
Also speaking at the event, the assistant programme officer of PRAWA, Mr. Nonso Maduka, said there is a correlation between human trafficking and drug abuse, saying that both phenomena are foundation for abuse and exploitation.
He enjoined the students to desist from any substance abuse that may affect their mental health, psychological and emotional development. He stated every trafficker is a drug addict and urged them to be in control of their future by saying no to trafficking and drug abuse.
The principals of the various schools also acknowledged the honour of hosting the sensitisation programme out of the numerous schools in the state and promised to inaugurate the Anti-Human Trafficking Vanguard Clubs on resumption for the third term. This will enable members who are students to continue with the awareness raising on issues of human trafficking, particularly among their peer groups.
At Linkage Standard Group of Schools, the proprietor, Prof P. N. Okoh, agreed that the sensitisation programme was timely, saying that it would go a long way to empower the students on ways they could prevent human trafficking in their environment. He promised that the school would always be available to strengthen the work of NAPTIP by contributing its quota to minimise human trafficking.
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