As the world recently marked the World Day Against Trafficking in Persons on July 28, the Rivers State Command of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) has raised an urgent call to parents and guardians to be more vigilant about their children’s activities, both online and offline.
Speaking in an interview, Mrs. Joy Annan, Principal Intelligence Officer and Head of the Public Enlightenment Unit at NAPTIP, emphasized that many young people fall victim to trafficking due to lack of proper parental monitoring and guidance.
“Check the sites they visit from time to time. Monitor what they do online and offline so they don’t fall victim,” she advised.
“When people hear ‘trafficking,’ they often think it’s only about sex work. But it includes much more—forced marriages, child begging, forced labour on farms or in factories, child pornography, and sex torture. In many cases, victims are asked to strip, take nude pictures of themselves, which are then used to extort money or blackmail them.”
Mrs. Annan further explained that demanding nude photos from someone and using them to blackmail or extort money is a form of trafficking and is punishable under Nigerian law.
One of the more alarming developments, she added, is the increasing rate of organ harvesting, particularly among unsuspecting youths.
“Parents, you must be more focused on your children. The common one now is organ harvesting. How can parents not know where their children are or who they are with? Before you realize it, it becomes a case of a missing person,” she said.
“The black market for organs like kidneys is growing. But they don’t come asking directly. These organs are often obtained through illegal and dangerous means. That’s why we’re strongly advising parents to keep a close watch on their children’s movements and associations.”
Mrs. Annan urged the public to take advantage of NAPTIP’s public awareness campaigns, report suspicious activities, and educate their communities on the different forms of trafficking that exist today.
As the world shines a light on the global fight against human trafficking, NAPTIP continues to stress the critical role of families and communities in prevention and early detection, calling on all to “see something and say something.”
