The fight against human trafficking in Nigeria and across Sub-Saharan Africa faces fresh challenges as survivors increasingly withdraw from sharing their experiences due to stigma, psychological trauma, and negative societal reactions. Experts warn that this trend is weakening ongoing efforts to curb the crime, stressing the need for responsible reporting and supportive community responses.
To address these concerns, the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), in partnership with the International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD), held a two-day capacity-building workshop for journalists and civil society organisations (CSOs) in Benin City, Edo State. The training, themed “Ethical Media Reporting on Human Trafficking and Irregular Migration”, drew 50 participants from five states—Edo, Delta, Ogun, Benue, and Enugu.
The programme, part of the Schools Anti-Trafficking Education and Advocacy Project (STEAP), aimed to equip participants with the knowledge, legal frameworks, and reporting skills necessary to protect the dignity and identity of survivors. Speakers emphasised the importance of avoiding sensationalism, stereotypes, and stigmatization in media coverage, urging ethical storytelling as a tool to encourage survivors to speak out and aid investigations.
In her remarks, NAPTIP Director-General, Hajia Binta Bello—represented by Benin Zonal Commander, Mr. Sam Offiah—described human trafficking as modern-day slavery. She acknowledged traffickers’ evolving tactics and reiterated the media’s role as a critical partner in combating the crime. Bello said the workshop was designed to foster mutual understanding among stakeholders and build capacity for accurate, rights-based reporting.
She pledged that NAPTIP would continue strengthening collaborations with state and non-state actors, expanding victim rescue operations, raising awareness, and ensuring the prosecution of offenders.
Also speaking, Mrs. Rhoda Dia-Johnson of ICMPD explained that the STEAP initiative, funded by the Government of the Netherlands, has been rolled out in 250 schools, with 50 pilot schools in each of the five participating states. She highlighted the dangers of misreporting, which could retraumatize victims and undermine national and international counter-trafficking campaigns.
NAPTIP Press Officer, Mr. Vincent Adekoya, presented an overview of trafficking trends, noting that over 22,000 victims have been rescued and more than 750 traffickers convicted since the agency was established. He identified emerging tactics, including the use of social media, fraudulent job offers, fake scholarships, baby factories, and even deceptive orphanages, as means traffickers employ to lure unsuspecting victims.
Adekoya described trafficking as a national crisis requiring collective effort, warning that victims are often exploited for forced labour, sexual exploitation, or organ harvesting both within Nigeria and abroad.
Participants were also trained on the legal implications of defamation and libel, as well as digital safety rules, to ensure journalists and CSOs are better equipped to report responsibly on human trafficking.