By Chukwudi Samuel
Had time awaits human traffickers and other organized criminal gangs operating with the aid of cyber technology as the National Agency For The Prohibition of Trafficking in persons (NAPTIP) has concluded collaboration with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children to enhance tracing and diligent investigation of all cases relating to child abuse and human trafficking.
Director General of NAPTIP, Dr Fatima Waziri-Azi disclosed this in Abuja while speaking on the 2022 counter Trafficking strategic approach of the agency aimed at ensuring protection of Nigeria from human trafficking and other forms of exploitation, online and offline.
Dr Fatima Waziri-Azi since the assumption of office has consistently maintained that the arrest and prosecution of high profile human trafficking operating both within and outside Nigeria remains one of her strategic priority as this will serve as deterrent to others as well and will help in reducing the level of impunity to ensure satisfactory justice delivery to victims of human trafficking.
However, Dr Fatima Waziri-Azi stated that investigation revealed that apart from millions of vunerable and unaccompanied children that are been trafficked accross the west African corridors and migrants routed, many victims are held and blackmailed by traffickers in various designation with the use of technology to shield their identities and also ensure firm and effective control measure on their victims.
The agency has stated that the commission will be working with other sister agencies in United States, in the target for reducing human trafficking in the country “under the new partnership NAPTIP shall have access to real information on child, sex trafficking, sex tourism involving children, child sexual molestation by none family members and online enticement of children for sexual acts, among others.
Speaking on the benefits of the new operational partnership, the Director General of said the latest development is a product of the renewed determination by the agency to investigate and prosecute those operating remotely with the aid of technology. “It is a known fact that human trafficking has continued to evolve in line with globalization especially with technology, traffickers have kept pace with web for their operations”
This mode of operandi is prominent with the Advent of the covid-19 pandemic, the DG said there is a shift from physical recruitment to virtual recruitment through virtual assessment of victims and proxy negotiations.
The DG said that the data based will help NAPTIP to have access to vital information of perpetrators who use social media platforms to electronically distributing ponographic materials to either blackmailed or exploit children. The system will also help in tracing missing children, rescue child victims from abusive situation.
Dr Fatima Waziri-Azi called on all stakeholders to cooperate with the agency through the sharing of information on missing children and other suspected activities of traffickers within their environment, and be assured that such information shall be treated with strict confidentiality and prompt attention.
