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Mr. Ganiu Aganran, new Commander of the Benin Zonal Command of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) has vowed to tackle human trafficking in the zone with arrest of high-profile traffickers.
Aganran in an interview in Benin, said such arrested traffickers would be diligently prosecuted to serve as a deterrent to others.
The agency under his watch, he said, 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.
Flowing from the above, he said the Agency in collaboration with the International Centre for Migration and Policy Development (ICMPD) would commence sensitisation initiatives under its School Anti-Trafficking Education and Advocacy Project (STEAP) in both Edo and Delta States.
The commander said the agency would under the initiatives, sensitise 50 secondary schools in each state in partnership with the Ministry of Education and Ministry of Justice on the ills of human trafficking.
According to him, the agency will 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.
He noted, however, that Benin Zonal Command of the Agency in 2023 rescued over 100 victims of trafficking and secured 3 convictions in the same period while 65 cases are currently in courts Edo and Delta, which are two states under the command.
Aganran called for a collaborative approach to combat human trafficking, stating 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.
The new commander noted that poverty was not the only factor contributing to human trafficking, but also greed, desperation, peer pressure and unemployment amongst others.
He noted, however, that the agency would address these underlying issues/factors through its programmes.
The NAPTIP boss advised the parents to be vigilant about their children’s activities, especially online, as human traffickers are increasingly using social media to recruit victims.
“Parents should be vigilant about their children’s activities, especially online, as human traffickers are using social media to recruit victims,” he warned.
He expressed his commitment to ensuring the visibility of the agency and working with the media to sensitise the public on the dangers of human trafficking.
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