The National Agency for the Trafficking In Persons (NAPTIP) is set to launch the Anti-Human Trafficking and Violence Against Persons Vanguards to deepen the fight against human trafficking, especially the prevention aspect of the Schools Anti-Trafficking EducPation and Advocacy Project (STEAP) in Delta State public schools.
NAPTIP’s Director General, Prof. Fatima Waziri-Azi disclosed this at a one-day stakeholders workshop for the validation of the baseline report on human trafficking in Asaba.
Represented by the Director, Intelligence, Research and Programme Department of the Agency, Mr Josiah Emerole, the NAPTIP boss said that the workshop was at the auspices of STEAP.
He noted that the fight against human trafficking should be collective to ensure that the battle was won and kicked out of the state through 50 secondary school in Delta.
Prof. Waziri-Azi noted that with the exposition and full knowledge of their operations, the younger generation will resist them and say no to their offers and promises.
“The fight is not that of the federal or state governments alone, but for everyone because a child that is trafficked belongs to a family, community and the state.
“So, we must all work together to ensure that the young ones are safe, this is because the rate at which the victims are shift out internally or externally abroad is worrisome.
“These are the future leaders of the country and many of them have died because we are letting them be destroyed by criminal gangs.
“So, what we are saying here is that with the STEAP project, the time is up for criminals gangs, everybody, especially the young population will understand the tricks of the traffickers,” he said.
In a remark, Head, West Africa Region of the International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD), Mojisola Sodeinde, represented by STEAP Project Manager, Rhoda Dia-Johnson, said stakeholders commitment was fundamental to the success of STEAP.
In a goodwill message, Delta State Attorney-General who is the Head, State Taskforce on Human Trafficking and Irregular Migration, Ekemejero Ohwovoriole, represented by STEAP Secretary, Ijoma Nwanze, said that the workshop was a testament of the commitment to save and protect the younger generation from human traffickers.
On her part, State Commissioner for Secondary Education, Mrs Rose Ezewu, represented by a Director in the Ministry of Basic Education, Mrs Winifred Ighavbota, described human trafficking as heinous crime against humanity.
The STEAP project is implemented by the collaborative effort of NAPTIP and ICMPD and is being funded by the Kingdom of Netherlands.