The International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD) has revealed that 75 percent of human trafficking victims recently rescued in Nigeria are of school age, according to a survey conducted by the organization.

Elvis Ederibhalo, Edo Project Officer of the School Anti-Trafficking Education and Advocacy Project (STEAP) of the ICMPD, disclosed this alarming statistic on Tuesday in Benin City during the inauguration of the Anti-Human Trafficking and Violence Against Persons (A.TIPVAP) Vanguard Club in selected secondary schools.

The initiative, implemented in collaboration with the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) and supported by the Government of the Netherlands, aims to combat the growing threat of human trafficking targeting Nigerian students.

"Since traffickers are recruiting directly from schools, we decided that prevention must start from schools too," Ederibhalo stated. "These clubs will not only educate students but also empower them to educate others."

The STEAP project has adopted a comprehensive approach by also training teachers and parents as key stakeholders in the fight against human trafficking. Ederibhalo further revealed that human trafficking awareness has been integrated into the national curriculum through ICMPD's collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Education.

To encourage student participation, schools involved in the initiative will receive infrastructural support, including furniture, teaching aids, and other materials based on their specific needs.

Digital Exploitation on the Rise

Sam Offiah, Zonal Commander of NAPTIP in Benin, highlighted the evolving tactics of traffickers who are increasingly exploiting digital platforms to target young Nigerians.

"We're seeing an upsurge in internet trafficking. Traffickers now use fake online profiles, phishing tactics, and blackmail with nude photos to manipulate and coerce victims," Offiah explained. "Students are now primary targets, and that's why this campaign is being taken straight into the schools."

According to Offiah, the A.TIPVAP Vanguard Club is designed to empower students with knowledge about traffickers' tactics, transforming them into ambassadors who can educate their peers and families about the dangers of trafficking.

"Human traffickers are adapting to modern technology, shifting their recruitment tactics online where unsuspecting youths are baited with fake job offers, scholarships, or international travel opportunities," he said. "Online trafficking is on the rise. Traffickers now hide in the dark web, making it harder to trace them. But through peer education, we can begin to dismantle their operations from the grassroots."

School administrators have welcomed the initiative. Mr. Ighodaro Egbe and Michael Ipogah, Principals of Ihogbe and Oba Akenzua Secondary Schools respectively, praised the program, with Egbe noting that "Our students are the prime targets for traffickers, and awareness is the first step in their defense."

This school-based approach represents a significant shift in anti-trafficking strategies in Nigeria, focusing on prevention and education rather than just rescue and rehabilitation efforts.