Online child abuse/trafficking: NAPTIP partners Facebook, NCMEC to enhance tracing, investigation
July 30, 2022
The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) says it is in partnership with Facebook to enhance tracing and diligent investigation of cases relating to online child abuse and others.
The agency is also partnering the National Centre for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) in carrying out its activities.
The NAPTIP Zonal Commander, South-East, Mrs Nneka Ajie disclosed this on Saturday in Enugu during a press briefing to mark the 2022 World Day Against Trafficking in Persons.
“NAPTIP has concluded partnership with Facebook and NCMEC to set up Amber Alert Nigeria, due to the increase in state and interstate trafficking, buying and selling of children and cryptic pregnancies.
“The Amber Alert is a situation, whereby, Facebook sends alerts to targeted Facebook community to help find missing children in Nigeria,” Ajie said.
Ajie described human trafficking as modern day slavery, adding that the recruitment of victims had gone multi-dimensional.
The zonal commander also said that no fewer than 170 human trafficking cases had been reported in Enugu State in the last one year, adding that four convictions were recorded within the period.
On the theme of the 2022 celebration which is ‘Use and Abuse of Technology’, Ajie said that the new approach of recruiting victims involved the use of technology.
“Over 40 per cent of victims are now recruited online and this has raised concerns considering the impact of the social media on our children,” she said.
She, however, said that technology had its positive impact on the crusade against human trafficking.
In her remarks, Mrs Amarachi Kene-Okafor, the Enugu State Coordinator, Network Against Child Trafficking, Abuse and Labour (NACTAL), said that human trafficking had conquered cyber space.
Kene-Okafor said that the internet and digital platforms offered traffickers tools to recruit, exploit, and control victims.
According to her, traffickers also organise transport and accommodation of victims, advertise and reach out to potential clients online.
“For people on the move, online resources can become a trap, especially when it comes to phony travel arrangements and fake job offers targeting vulnerable groups.
“However, in the use of technology also lies great opportunity. Success in eradicating human trafficking will depend on how we can leverage on law enforcement and the criminal justice system,” she said.
She said that prevention and sensitisation on the safe use of the internet and social media could help mitigate the risk of people falling victim of trafficking online.
“NACTAL shall continue to do all within its power to ensure that trafficking in persons is eradicated in our country and in Enugu State in particular,” Kene-Okafor said.
July 30 every year is set aside for awareness on the situation of victims of human trafficking and protection of their rights.
Highlights of the event was a road walk to sensitise the public on dangers of human trafficking in the country.
The press conference was organised by NACTAL with support from Expertise France. (NAN)