The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons NAPTIP, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and the International Organization for Migration IOM, in collaboration with other stakeholders, are exploring new ways to combat human trafficking.
At the World Day Against Trafficking in Persons 2025, held in Benin City on Tuesday, the NAPTIP Benin Zonal Commander, Sam Ofia, said the collaboration aims to develop effective strategies to prevent trafficking, protect victims, and prosecute perpetrators.
He was represented at the sensitization rally by the head of, Counselling and Rehabilitation unit, NAPTIP BENIN ZONAL COMMAND, Stephen Selowo.
Ofia said Human trafficking remains a significant challenge, with victims often facing exploitation and abuse, stressing that to effectively combat trafficking, innovative strategies and approaches are necessary.
The 2025 theme “Human Trafficking is Organised Crime – End Exploitation” highlights the harsh reality of trafficking as a calculated business driven by criminal networks, according to Ofia.
He demanded a concerted effort from stakeholders to disrupt and dismantle trafficking networks, adding that Benin City and Edo State have emerged as both a focal point and a symbol of hope in the fight against trafficking, attributing increasing cooperation among stakeholders, including law enforcement agencies, NGOs, and community leaders.
Describing the road walk as a “call to action,” Ofia urged the public to help spread the awareness in their domain while remaining vigilant and report all suspicious activities.
On their part, Commander Mitchel Ofoyeju, Edo State Command, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, and Aigbeze Uhimwen, Senior Project Assistant, IOM, hailed the move, describing human trafficking as an organized crime where complementary efforts are needed to stem the tide
They noted, “Just like human trafficking, drug trafficking is driven by sophisticated criminal networks across borders. They are intensifying efforts using intelligence-led strategies to tackle the drug menace in Edo State.”
NDLEA’s Vigilance during the sensitization rally yielded notable results as the officials apprehended two suspected drug traffickers at the Ihama axis of Benin Metropolis, underscoring the ongoing efforts to maintain public safety and security in the face of evolving criminal threats.
AT the 2025 world day against trafficking in person, Stakeholders from other organizations including Ann Ojuigo, the President People With Disability, PWD, Elvis Ederibholo, ProJect Officer International center For Migration Policy Development and Ehimen Evans, Coordinator NACTAL, shared expertise and experiences to identify best practices where they described the event as timely and a collaboration ready to ease the danger of human trafficking.
The renewed partnership could lead to enhanced cooperation among agencies and organizations, improving the response to trafficking in person in the State.
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