NAPTIP, Netherlands, ICMPD Launch Anti-Trafficking Vanguard in Makurdi
NAPTIP, Netherlands, ICMPD Launch Anti-Trafficking Vanguard in Makurdi
NAPTIP, Netherlands, ICMPD Launch Anti-Trafficking Vanguard in Makurdi
Benue State capital, witnessed a major anti-human trafficking intervention as the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), the International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD), and a delegation from the Kingdom of the Netherlands carried out a series of impactful activities across the state.
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The visit was marked by the inauguration of the School Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Violence Against Persons Vanguard at Government Model Secondary School, Makurdi, under the School Anti-Trafficking Education and Advocacy Project (STEAP).
The delegation also visited the Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camp sheltering victims of the recent Yelwata massacre, commissioned a toilet facility constructed under the STEAP initiative, and observed capacity-building workshops for NAPTIP investigators, prosecutors, and other enforcement agencies. The training sessions, focused on Trafficking in Persons (TIP) and Violence Against Persons (VAP), were held at Eyah’s Hotel & Suites, Makurdi.
Director-General of NAPTIP, Binta Adamu Bello, led the agency’s team, while the Netherlands delegation was headed by Victor Cramer, Deputy Director General, Ministry of Asylum and Migration. Also present was the Head of ICMPD Nigeria Office, Ms. Isabelle Wolfsgruber.
Describing the visit as a significant milestone, Bello noted that the three-pronged engagement reflects the result-oriented focus of the STEAP project, funded by the Kingdom of the Netherlands and implemented by NAPTIP in partnership with ICMPD.
“Trafficking and violence are local problems that require local solutions,” she said, emphasizing that empowering students, teachers, parents, and community leaders creates protective environments for children and disrupts pathways to exploitation.
Victor Cramer commended the efforts of NAPTIP and ICMPD in schools and targeted communities, describing human trafficking as a serious crime that demands collective action. He stressed the need for deliberate interventions to reduce vulnerability and prioritize victim care and support.
In his remarks, the Benue State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Yangien Ornguga, reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to collaborating with stakeholders to combat trafficking and violence.
A major highlight of the event was a mock trial conducted by investigators and prosecutors, demonstrating preparedness to effectively prosecute offenders and strengthen enforcement against trafficking and related crimes.
The engagement underscored growing international cooperation, particularly with the Embassy of the Netherlands in Nigeria, in supporting Nigeria’s fight against human trafficking and violence against persons.
NAPTIP, Netherlands, ICMPD Launch Anti-Trafficking Vanguard in Makurdi
