By Amos Aar
THE NATIONAL Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) has cautioned students and young people against greed and the lure of fake opportunities abroad, urging them to resist temptations that could lead to human trafficking.
The Zonal Commander of NAPTIP, Mrs. Gloria Bai, gave the warning during the inauguration of the School Anti-Trafficking Education and Advocacy Project (STEAP) Vanguard at Government Secondary School (GSS), Ikpayongo, Benue State, on Tuesday.
Bai lamented that many young people fall victim to traffickers due to greed, despite growing up in poverty. She emphasized that poverty should not be an excuse to seek risky opportunities abroad.
“I understand poverty, but some of us grew up in poverty and didn’t allow anyone to traffic us. If it’s poverty, why not stay with your parents and manage what they provide? Greed is pushing our children — every child wants a big phone,” she said.
She exposed the horrors of human trafficking, revealing that female victims are often forced into prostitution, sleeping with up to 20 men daily, while male victims face rape and abuse. “It’s modern-day slavery,” she declared.
Benue Among Worst-Hit States
Bai explained that Benue was selected for the project due to its high trafficking rates, topping NAPTIP’s data for the past four years.
She expressed hope that the sensitization program would reduce cases as students become ambassadors against trafficking.
Stakeholders Call for Wider Awareness
The Benue State Commissioner for Education, Dr. Frederick Ikyaan, represented by Prince Ageba Aule, disclosed that the Netherlands government funded the 4-year STEAP program after identifying Benue, Ogun, Enugu, Delta, and Edo as high-risk states.
Aule revealed that apart from awareness campaigns, schools would benefit from infrastructure projects such as boreholes and perimeter fences, funded by the Netherlands.
Local Trafficking Concerns Raised
A teacher at GSS Ikpayongo, Mr. Ortamen Nathan Annor, raised alarm over a new nightclub in the community allegedly exploiting underage girls. “The owner has already made ₦8 million. It’s ruining our children,” he said.
The District Head of Mbasombo, Chief Pius Kuhe, urged NAPTIP to extend sensitization to the wider Ikpayongo community, citing rampant trafficking cases.
Anti-Trafficking Vanguard Inaugurated
NAPTIP presented red cards and advocacy materials to 30 students selected as Anti-Trafficking Vanguard members, tasking them with raising awareness and protecting vulnerable peers.
The Principal of GSS Ikpayongo, Mr. Msughter Kungur, pledged to extend the campaign beyond the school to benefit the entire community.
The event concluded with the unveiling of an Anti-Trafficking Vanguard signboard along the Makurdi-Aliade road, symbolizing the school’s commitment to combating human trafficking.
