By Jethro Ibileke
The Commander of the Benin Zonal Office of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), Mr. Ganiu Aganran, has revealed that human traffickers now recruit their victims via social media.
Aganran who was recently deployed to the Zoneal office, disclosed this while speaking to journalists in his office in Benin.
The new Commander who noted that poverty was not the only factor contributing to human trafficking, blamed greed, desperation, peer pressure and unemployment as underlying reasons for human trafficking.
Aganra who called for a collaborative approach to combat human trafficking, warned parents to be vigilant about their children’s activities, especially online, as human traffickers are increasingly using social media to recruit victims.
He promised that the Agency would work with other law enforcement agencies, stakeholders, and the media to achieve its goals.
“We cannot do it alone, we need the support of all stakeholders to combat human trafficking.
“We need to educate the public on the dangers of human trafficking, especially in rural communities where the victims are mostly recruited,” he said.
“Parents should be vigilant about their children’s activities, especially online, as human traffickers are using social media to recruit victims,” he warned.
Aganran however vowed to tackle the menace of human trafficking in the Zone addressing these underlying issues/factors through its programmes.
This 8s even as he vowed to arrest and diligently prosecute all arrested high-profile suspected traffickers to serve as a deterrent to others.
According to him, the Agency under his watch would focus more on public awareness creation, particularly in rural communities, to prevent human trafficking and educate the public on the dangers of the crime.
This, he said, would be achieved through collaboration with the International Centre for Migration and Policy Development (ICMPD), and in partnership with the Ministries of Education and Justice.
He further disclosed that the Agency would commence sensitisation initiatives in 50 secondary schools each in Edo and Delta states under its School Anti-Trafficking Education and Advocacy Project (STEAP).
Aganran stated that the Agency would also work to provide necessary skills and support in the form of empowerment to willing rescued victims to ensure they are self-sufficient and not further re-trafficked.
Meanwhile, the Benin Zonal Command of the NAPTIP rescued over 100 victims of trafficking and secured 3 convictions in 2023, while 65 cases are currently in various Courts in Edo and Delta states.