Staff of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) took to the streets of Abuja on Monday to raise public awareness about the dangers of human trafficking.
The awareness walk, held as part of activities marking the 2025 World Day Against Human Trafficking, was led by the agency’s Director General, Hajiya Binta Bello. Participants walked from the Old Parade Ground to Unity Fountain, distributing flyers and educational materials to passersby.
Speaking at the end of the event, Bello said the agency had sensitized residents along the route and received a number of reports related to trafficking. “We distributed various Information, Education, and Communication (IEC) materials to the people and created awareness on how to identify and report trafficking cases,” she stated.
She described the walk as both a public sensitization effort and a symbolic show of resistance to traffickers operating within Nigeria and the wider African region. “By issuing a symbolic ‘Red Card’ this morning, we have sent a clear message to trafficking syndicates that their time is up,” Bello declared.
The NAPTIP boss also announced the agency’s strategic expansion of its grassroots network, now involving stakeholders across Nigeria’s 774 local government areas. Partners include the National Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO), community-based women’s groups, religious and traditional leaders, and state governments.
Bello expressed gratitude to the agency’s local and international partners, including the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), International Organization for Migration (IOM), International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD), and others for their continued support in the fight against human trafficking.
