Ebonyi Marks 2026 World Day Against Human Trafficking, Warns Against Child Exploitation ‎ ‎

‎ ‎By Wilson Ogbonnaya Okereke, Abakaliki ‎

‎The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), in collaboration with the Ebonyi State Ministry of Justice, has joined the global community to commemorate the 2026 World Day Against Trafficking in Persons, with a renewed call for collective action to end human trafficking. ‎ ‎Speaking during a sensitisation campaign and road walk in Abakaliki on Thursday, the Ebonyi State Commander of NAPTIP, Mrs. Offor Beta, said this year's theme, "Trapped Behind Scam," highlights the deceptive tactics traffickers use to lure victims, particularly children and vulnerable persons.

‎ ‎She said NAPTIP is working closely with law enforcement agencies, civil society organisations, traditional institutions and other stakeholders to combat human trafficking in the state, while urging parents to be more vigilant and protect their children from traffickers. ‎ ‎Mrs. Beta warned children against falling for false promises of employment and better opportunities, stressing that Ebonyi children are not for sale. ‎ ‎She disclosed that the agency is mandated to arrest and prosecute traffickers, investigate cases, rescue victims, and provide counselling and rehabilitation services. According to her, NAPTIP has already arrested and prosecuted several suspects while rescuing and rehabilitating victims of trafficking. ‎ ‎The commander further revealed plans to establish Anti-Human Trafficking Task Forces and Violence Against Persons Vanguard Brigades in primary schools across the state to educate children on the dangers of trafficking from an early age. ‎ ‎She also noted that the Ebonyi State Anti-Human Trafficking Task Force, chaired by the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice and co-chaired by the NAPTIP State Commander, comprises government ministries, security agencies, traditional rulers, faith-based organisations and civil society groups working together to eliminate human trafficking. ‎ ‎Also speaking, the Ebonyi State Coordinator of the Civil Society Organisation Network on Migration and Development (CSONETMADE), Mrs. Goodness Mgbaja, identified poverty as one of the major drivers of human trafficking. ‎ ‎She said many parents unknowingly hand over their children to traffickers who disguise as recruiters offering lucrative jobs and better living opportunities abroad. ‎ ‎Mrs. Mgbaja urged governments at all levels to intensify poverty reduction efforts, noting that economic hardship has made many families vulnerable to exploitation. ‎ ‎She warned that promises of overseas employment for children are often fraudulent, adding that trafficked victims are frequently subjected to prostitution, domestic servitude and organ harvesting. ‎ ‎According to her, the organisation has rescued about 20 victims, reunited some with their families and supported the prosecution of suspected traffickers. ‎ ‎A member of the Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities (JONAPWD), Mr. Sampson Chinedu Aloh, commended the organisers for raising public awareness on the dangers of human trafficking, describing the crime as both a sin against God and a crime against humanity. ‎ ‎Similarly, the Deputy Coordinator of the Ebonyi State Gender-Based Violence Task Force, Dr. Flora Egwu, said the sensitisation had enlightened many parents who were previously unaware of the dangers of human trafficking. ‎ ‎She expressed optimism that participants would spread the message within their communities and called on partner organisations to sustain advocacy efforts until human trafficking is eradicated. ‎