Mrs Binta Adamu, Director General (D-G), National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), has inaugurated school anti-trafficking vanguard in Benue.
Adamu, who performed the ceremony on Wednesday at the Government Modern Secondary School Makurdi, said the vanguard was part of government’s efforts to ensure safety of school children in the country.
The D-G stated that the project, which is under the School Anti-trafficking Education and Advocacy Project (STEAP), is funded by the Netherlands Government and implemented by NAPTIP in partnership with the International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD).
She restated NAPTIP’s commitment to protecting every woman and child in the country from human trafficking, exploitation, and abuse.
“The objectives of this school vanguard include raising consistent, age-appropriate awareness among students, teachers, and parents about trafficking in persons and violence against persons.
“Recognising the signs, understanding the risks, and knowing the law and building school-based prevention capacity through peer educators, trained teachers, and designated safeguarding focal points who can identify, refer, and follow up on cases,” she said.
The D-G urged the students, teachers, parents, community leaders, and public servants to take ownership of the vanguard, encourage open conversations, and watch for warning signs.
At the International Market Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camp hosting Yeliwata survivors, Adamu reassured them that they were not forgotten by the government.
“We understand that displacement and hardship can make families vulnerable. Unfortunately, human traffickers often take advantage of difficult situations like this.
“They come with promises of jobs, education, financial support, or a better life elsewhere. But many of those promises are lies designed to exploit women and children,” she said.
In his remarks, Victor Cramer, Deputy Director-General, International Migration, Ministry of Asylum and Migration of the Netherlands, said human trafficking is a crime against humanity.
Cramer said people must learn to love and live with one another to effectively combat trafficking in the world.
“Human trafficking is a crime against humanity, and it will need every one of us to stop it. We have to be our neighbours’ keepers, and if you see something, say something,” he said.
Earlier, the Commissioner for Education and Knowledge Management, Dr Margaret Adamu, said over 5,000 parents, teachers, students and community stakeholders have been sensitised in the state.
Adamu announced that a total of 14 vanguard clubs were already inaugurated across various schools in the state.
She said the initiative, which is implemented across 50 schools in the state, has increased awareness about human trafficking and violence among school-aged children.
