The Director General of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), Hajia Binta Bello, has called on parents and young Nigerians to remain vigilant and reject the lure of human trafficking and organ harvesting, which continue to endanger vulnerable communities across the country.
She made the call in Abuja during the donation of over 70 football jerseys to F.C Wuzgak, a football club based in Masaka, Nasarawa State. The event was part of activities marking the 2025 Children’s Day celebration, organized by Blue North Initiative (BNI).
Represented by Mrs. Ogo Adinde, Deputy Director of Counseling and Rehabilitation at NAPTIP, Hajia Bello cautioned young people against keeping secrets from their parents, teachers, or counselors, especially when approached by strangers or acquaintances with suspicious offers.
“Human trafficking may appear trivial to some, but it is a grave violation of human dignity,” she said. “It is not limited to taking children abroad. There’s internal trafficking too—where young boys and girls are lured from rural areas to cities under false pretenses, only to end up in exploitative conditions like forced prostitution.”
She further warned that traffickers often operate through familiar faces, friends, relatives, or neighbors, who promise better opportunities in urban areas or overseas.
“Don’t be deceived by anyone promising you a better life in the city or abroad without your family’s knowledge. Some children have been taken to places like Abuja and forced into prostitution. Some are even victims of organ harvesting,” she added.
Mrs. Adinde painted a grim picture of how traffickers operate under the guise of assistance. “They might pretend you are sick, take you to a fake hospital, sedate you, and remove your kidney without your consent. These organs are sold for huge sums. It’s a deeply dangerous crime.”
She urged children and youths to always inform trusted adults when approached with suspicious proposals and not to fall for promises of easy money or fake travel arrangements.
Also speaking at the event, the Country Director of Blue North Initiative, Mrs. Boma West, appealed to Nigerian children to steer clear of social vices and remain cautious of human traffickers. She emphasized that the group’s mission is to prevent child trafficking through school-based awareness campaigns.
“Our goal is to reach as many children as possible and ensure they don’t fall into the hands of traffickers,” she said. “Too many Nigerians have suffered from the horrors of human trafficking, and we must act intentionally to end this menace.”
Mrs. West reaffirmed Blue North Initiative’s commitment to working with NAPTIP and other partners to continue public enlightenment and support services for trafficking survivors across Nigeria, Canada, and other countries.
“Blue North was founded in November 2022 by Mr. Kalistus Ekenna, a former NAPTIP staff who was deeply disturbed by the extent of trafficking. He decided to take action by setting up this organization to focus on awareness and support for victims,” she noted.
Highlighting the day’s activities, she explained that the children from Nasarawa were brought to Abuja not only to receive football jerseys but also to experience an exciting Children’s Day celebration.
“We discovered the football team didn’t have jerseys when we visited to conduct an anti-trafficking campaign. Today, we brought them to Abuja, treated them to sightseeing and games, and gifted them the jerseys as part of our outreach,” she explained. “It’s been a joyful moment for the children.”
According to Mrs. West, Blue North Initiative’s central mission remains the prevention of human trafficking and the rehabilitation of victims. “This is our core mandate and we will not rest until trafficking is eradicated,” she affirmed.
