NAPTIP Inaugurates Anti Trafficking and Violence Against Persons Vangaurd in Markudi School, Visits IDPs

From Dooshima Terkura, Makurdi

The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) on Wednesday inaugurated the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Violence Against Persons Vanguard in Makurdi, the Benue State capital, marking a new step in efforts to safeguard students from exploitation and abuse.

Speaking at the ceremony which took place at Government Model Secondary School, Director-General of NAPTIP, Binta Bello, described the launch as an important milestone under the School Anti-Trafficking Education and Advocacy Project (STEAP), a programme funded by the Kingdom of the Netherlands and implemented by NAPTIP in partnership with the International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD).

Bello said the initiative reflects a shared commitment that schools must remain safe spaces where children can learn, grow and pursue their dreams without fear of trafficking, violence, exploitation or abuse.

She emphasized that the vanguard is not merely symbolic but a practical, community-driven mechanism designed to protect children and adolescents at a time when their vulnerability is increasing.

According to her, the objectives of the school vanguard include raising consistent, age-appropriate awareness among students, teachers and parents about trafficking and violence, while equipping them to recognize warning signs, understand risks and know the law.

She added that the programme will build prevention capacity through peer educators, trained teachers and designated safeguarding focal points capable of identifying, referring and following up on suspected cases.

Bello noted that the vanguard will also establish safe reporting channels and clear referral pathways to ensure cases are handled quickly, professionally and compassionately.

She expressed optimism that the project would deliver measurable outcomes such as increased awareness and reporting, faster referrals, reduced incidents of recruitment and abuse, and stronger community ownership of prevention.

Highlighting NAPTIP’s mandate, Bello said the agency was created to coordinate Nigeria’s response to human trafficking and related abuses through prevention, investigation, prosecution, protection and rehabilitation.

She stressed that trafficking and violence are local problems requiring local solutions, underscoring the importance of initiatives that place students, teachers, parents and community leaders at the centre of prevention.

The Director-General conveyed appreciation to the Kingdom of the Netherlands for its support to the STEAP project and broader school improvement efforts, describing the partnership as evidence of how international cooperation can strengthen local responses.

She assured stakeholders that NAPTIP would work with the Ministry of Education, school authorities, parent, teacher associations and civil society groups to sustain the vanguard, while calling on students, teachers and parents to take ownership by remaining vigilant, encouraging open dialogue and reporting suspicious activities.

Leader of the delegation from the Netherlands, Mr Victor Cramer, who is also the Deputy Director General, Ministry of Asylum and Migration, Netherlands, described human trafficking as a gross violation of human rights and called on all stakeholders to join hands to fight the menace. He reiterated the support of the Netherlands to ensure that the project is successfully implemented.

The Zonal Commander NAPTIP, Benue State Zonal Command Gloria Bai said the students have been trained to look out for their fellow students and recruit others into the campaign. She assured that with the inauguration of the vanguard, the high rate of trafficking among children will be reduced drastically.

Our correspondent reports that the DG also visited displaced persons from Yelewata at the International Market IDP camp, in Makurdi where she delivered a message of hope saying their visit was to reassure them that they are not forgotten but “Your safety, dignity, and protection remain our priority. 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. Let me assure you, NAPTIP is fully committed to protecting every woman and child here from human trafficking, exploitation, and abuse.

Hajia Bello also visited participants at the ongoing Capacity Building Workshops for NAPTIP Investigators and Prosecutors, and Related Enforcement
Agencies on Trafficking in Persons (TIP) and Violence Against Persons (VAP) holding in Markurdi.

The workshop was organized by the International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD) in partnership with NAPTIP, with support from the Ministry of Asylum and Migration of the Kingdom of the Netherlands under the Building and environment free of human Trafficking and Violence Against Persons in Nigeria (TIPVAP NG) project.