By Emmanuel Antswen
Wife of the Tor Tiv, Her Majesty, Dr Felicia Ayatse, said human trafficking is a crime against humanity that requires collaboration among all stakeholders to end it permanently.
Ayatse made the call on Thursday at a one-day training for wives of traditional and religious leaders on Trafficking in Persons and Violence Against Persons (TIPVAP) in Gboko.
The training is organised to commemorate the 2026 World Day Against Trafficking in Persons.
The programme was put together by the International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD) in partnership with the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP).
The project is being implemented in Benue by the Okaha Women and Children Development Organization (OWACDO) to strengthen community efforts against trafficking and violence.
The wife of the traditional ruler described human trafficking as a battle against human existence, urging citizens to reject the crime by speaking out and reporting suspicious activities to relevant authorities.
She expressed concern that Benue ranked among states with high trafficking cases, adding that some perpetrators were indigenes who lured children with false promises of better opportunities.
“It is a battle that must be won, and with determination and God’s help, we can overcome it. We must reject this evil by standing firmly against it and reporting anything related to human trafficking,” she said.
According to her, the trend has forced many children out of school as they are lured or deceived into travelling to cities and foreign countries in search of better opportunities.
Earlier, Makurdi Zonal Commander of NAPTIP, Mrs Hembadoon Kuma, said trafficking had become widespread in Benue and required collective action from government, traditional institutions, communities and families.
Kuma also condemned sexual exploitation in homes, describing it as another form of human trafficking that must be tackled through sustained awareness and stronger community vigilance.
ICMPD Project Officer Mr Selbol Langyi said wives of traditional rulers could educate families, discourage unsafe migration, promote education and report suspected trafficking cases in communities.
Langyi stated that the Netherlands-funded School Anti-Trafficking Education and Advocacy Project operates in Benue, Delta, Edo, Enugu and Ogun states through education and public awareness.
He added that the project trained educators, established anti-trafficking vanguard clubs, supported school improvement projects and reached 11,727 people through awareness campaigns in Benue.
OWACDO Executive Director Mrs Joy Ijuwo said traffickers exploited fake jobs, scholarships, sham marriages, social media and false overseas opportunities to deceive vulnerable people.
She urged participants to educate families, recognise trafficking warning signs and support victims, noting that poverty, ignorance and harmful cultural practices increased vulnerability among women and children.
The Benue Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Prof. Yangien Ornguga, warned that traffickers now exploit digital platforms to recruit victims using deceptive employment and travel opportunities.
Represented by Mrs Dooshima Ortserga, he urged communities to verify travel opportunities and strengthen referral pathways as participants pledged stronger community action against human trafficking.
The event featured sensitisation sessions on trafficking in persons, violence against persons and the establishment of referral pathways for victims, with participants committing to strengthen community-based efforts against human trafficking. NAN
