By; RAYMOND TEDUNJAYE, Lagos
The National Agency for Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) has revealed new tricks employed by human traffickers to lure their victims.
These tricks, according to the agency, include using of technology for profiling, violence, manipulation, false promises of well paying jobs, romantic relationship, physical and emotional abuse, isolation from friends and relations, fishing through the social media among others.
The Benin Zonal Commander of the agency, Mr. Nduka Nwanwene, who made the disclosure, pointed out that recruitment through the social media platforms tagged ” fishing and hunting” has become a common feature.
” People are now connected without geographical barriers and they have used the space to perpetrate human trafficking.
The case of Ini Imoren, who went on search of job through Twitter,. a micro blogging platform, when she indicated that she was searching for a job. A fake recruiter who fixed an interview cut her life short”, the Zonal Commander stressed.
Speaking on the” Emerging Tricks and Trends in HT, A Case Study of South South Region Nigeria”, at a 3- day Training and Capacity Development orientation on Standard Reporting Template for members of the TIP Media Corps and Officers of Press and Public Relations Unit held at GolfView Hotel, GRA, Ikeja, Lagos, supported by FIIAPP/ A-TIPSOM, funded by European Union, Nwanwene hinted that the internet provides easy access to much larger groups of potential victims because traditional, physical and geographical limitations no longer exist.
” Recently, a victim rescued from South Africa and referred to NAPTIP said dating websites were opened for her in three major cities in South Africa, namely Durban, Capetown.amd Jio’burg; where customers patronised her , with the proceeds going to the Traffickers. One of the suspects arrested in the case in Benin city has a pending court case with NAPTIP for human trafficking”, he disclosed.
Nwanwene therefore, appealed to both the government at all levels and the public that no effort should be spared to contain the menace.
