As part of efforts to fight human trafficking in Nigeria, the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons in collaboration with Action Against Trafficking in Persons and Smuggling of Migrants in Nigeria has commenced training for media partners.
The training came up following the need to ensure accurate reporting of issues of trafficking.
The Director-General of NAPTIP, who was represented by the Agency’s Director of Public Enlightenment, Josiah Emerole stated this in Delta State, Southern Nigeria, at the 3-day Training and Capacity Development on Standard Reporting Template for Members of the Trafficking in Persons Media Corps and Officers of Press and Public relations Unit.
The Director of Public Enlightenment, in his opening remarks, affirmed that there was a need for media personnel to understand how to report the news of human trafficking and irregular migration.
According to him, an improved working relationship between the media and the Agency is crucial for the protection of victims of human trafficking and ensuring that their voices are heard
Mr Emerole expressed optimism that at the end of the training, the media would give prominence to the issues of trafficking and handle them as criminal offences.
“The issue of trafficking must be strategically addressed due to its clandestine nature.
“Within Nigeria, there are accounts of a higher percentage of trafficking as compared to trafficking outside the country and more searchlights must be shone on it to tackle the issue of internal trafficking.”
“It is expected that at the end of the training, the media would be better informed on the emerging tricks, routes and trends in human trafficking” he added
On the achievement of the Agency over the years, Mr Emerole noted that NAPTIP has rescued about eighteen thousand trafficked victims and assisted in convicting five hundred and sixteen offenders of human trafficking in Nigeria.
On the objectives of the training, the representative of the Action Against Trafficking in Persons and Smuggling of Migrants in Nigeria, A-TIPSOM Nigeria, Mr Joseph Sanwo, emphasised the need for journalists to know how best to report the issues of Trafficking in Persons and Smuggling of Migrants.
It is reported that no fewer than 40.3 million victims are currently trapped in different forms of human trafficking across the globe with Nigerians accounting for a greater number.
Dominica Nwabufo
