The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons has raised the alarm over the increasing use of Civil Society Organisations, including faith based and community based organisations, as fronts for human trafficking in vulnerable communities.
The agency also disclosed that traffickers are increasingly targeting young males, indicating a shift from the traditional focus on women and girls.
The Head of Press and Public Relations of NAPTIP, Vincent Adekoye, disclosed this at a joint press briefing of security spokespersons in Abuja. Adekoye said traffickers are taking advantage of communities affected by crises, particularly farmer herder conflicts, by posing as representatives of organisations offering assistance to vulnerable families.
He said some traffickers operate under the guise of fake educational initiatives, promising parents that their children would be taken back to school before moving them to other locations. According to him, NAPTIP had uncovered cases where traffickers disguised themselves as members of CSOs and moved into distressed communities, gaining the trust of residents before taking children away.
He said the Director General of NAPTIP had directed the agency to intensify the profiling of CSOs operating in vulnerable communities, while urging legitimate organisations to conduct internal checks to prevent criminal elements from infiltrating their ranks.
He urged Nigerians to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities involving individuals or organisations dealing with vulnerable children to NAPTIP.
Source: Punch