BENIN CITY – In a renewed push against the scourge of human trafficking, the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) on Wednesday inaugurated Anti-Trafficking Vanguards in two secondary schools in Edo State, mobilising students as peer educators and community advocates.

The initiative, carried out in partnership with the International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD), is part of the “School in the Schools Anti-Trafficking Education and Advocacy Project” (STEAP), supported by the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

The pilot phase of the project was launched at Urora Secondary School and Bethel Secondary School in Aduwawa, Uhunmwonde Local Government Area, with 30 students drawn from both junior and senior secondary levels in each school selected to serve as anti-trafficking ambassadors.

Speaking at the inauguration at Urora Secondary School, NAPTIP’s Benin Zonal Commander, Mr Sam Offiah, described human trafficking as a persistent menace that continues to prey on vulnerable school-age children.

“Human trafficking is a menace in our society and many children of school age have been victims.

That is why we are inaugurating anti-trafficking vanguards in schools to fight the scourge,” Offiah said.

He explained that the selected students, chosen from among 50 schools participating in the first phase of the project, would be empowered to educate their peers, raise awareness within their families, and extend sensitization campaigns to their communities.

“You are selected among 50 schools for the first phase of this project. We have 30 students from junior and senior secondary schools as advocates to stand against injustice and trafficking in this institution,” he said.

Offiah assured that NAPTIP, in collaboration with ICMPD and with sponsorship from the Government of the Netherlands, would closely monitor the progress of the vanguards, urging other students to join the movement to strengthen resistance against traffickers.

Also speaking, ICMPD Project Officer for STEAP in Edo, Mr Elvis Ederibhalo, warned that schools remain prime targets for traffickers who exploit the innocence and vulnerability of young people.

“Traffickers are always coming to schools to recruit pupils because of their innocence. So we are coming with NAPTIP to educate you to know your rights, how to say no to traffickers and also sensitise other students and members of the society,” he said.

Representing the Edo State Ministry of Education, the project’s Desk Officer, Mrs Mercy Imasuen-Irabor, commended the collaboration, describing the vanguard initiative as a sustainable intervention aimed at safeguarding children from exploitation.

“This anti-trafficking vanguard has come to stay and you will be equipped with the knowledge to avoid being trafficked,” she said, urging the students to cascade the information to their peers, churches and wider communities.

The Principal of Urora Secondary School, Mrs Omorogie Edith, expressed appreciation to the state government and partner organisations for selecting the school as one of the pilot institutions for the first phase of the project, pledging the school’s full support for the initiative.