The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) has raised concerns over the growing use of digital platforms by human traffickers and sexual predators to groom, manipulate and exploit vulnerable people, particularly children.

The agency warned that traffickers increasingly exploit online relationships, emotional vulnerability and threats to expose private photographs to force victims into sexual exploitation, financial extortion and other forms of abuse.

The warning comes amid growing concerns about online sexual exploitation, sextortion and the use of social media to recruit victims into organised trafficking networks.

NAPTIP has identified digital platforms as an increasingly important tool used by criminal networks to establish contact with unsuspecting individuals, gain their trust and eventually subject them to exploitation.

In a related warning issued in November, the agency’s Head of Press and Public Relations, Vincent Adekoye, disclosed that trafficking networks were targeting people through social interactions, fraudulent job advertisements and online relationships.

He explained that some suspected traffickers approach potential victims in social environments, including gyms and recreational centres, presenting themselves as helpful individuals before obtaining their telephone numbers and building relationships.

According to him, the criminals sometimes make late-night calls, offer assistance during emergencies and gradually create emotional dependence as part of their recruitment strategy.

The clubs were established under the School Anti-Trafficking Education and Advocacy Project (STEAP), implemented by the International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD) in partnership with NAPTIP and relevant state institutions.

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Speaking at the event, Tonia Mgbemeje, Assistant Director of the Legal and Prosecution Unit at NAPTIP’s Benin Zonal Command, said traffickers no longer needed to meet their victims physically before recruiting them for exploitation.

She explained that criminals could establish relationships with children through social media platforms such as Facebook and Instagram, gradually gain their confidence and eventually manipulate them into dangerous situations.

According to Mgbemeje, some traffickers threaten to circulate victims’ private photographs online after persuading them to share such images.

She warned that children could be deceived with promises of attractive employment opportunities, scholarships and better living conditions abroad.

The NAPTIP official also identified demands for secrecy from parents, teachers and guardians as a major warning sign, urging students to question suspicious offers and seek assistance from trusted adults.

She stressed that children should never allow anyone they meet online to pressure them into keeping relationships, travel arrangements or financial offers secret from their families.

Mgbemeje described prevention as a major component of the agency’s anti-trafficking strategy, explaining that school-based sensitisation would help children recognise recruitment tactics before they became victims.

She said the newly inaugurated clubs would empower students to identify suspicious activities, educate their classmates and serve as advocates against human trafficking within their schools and communities.

Also speaking, Daniella Ige, Junior Project Officer of ICMPD in Edo State, said the project was being expanded to cover 37 schools across three phases.

She explained that the first phase covered 10 schools, the second included 15 schools, while the current phase covered another 12 schools.

The project initially targeted 50 schools, with approximately 30 students expected to participate in each club, translating to a target of 1,500 student advocates.

Ige said the initiative would also extend beyond schools to churches, markets and communities through parent-teacher associations to improve public awareness of human trafficking.

She added that students would be encouraged to organise debates, address fellow learners during assemblies and lead peer-to-peer sensitisation campaigns.

The Head of Programme and Research at the Edo State Migration Agency, Ernest Osarenkhoe, urged the students to become advocates for safe migration and help discourage irregular migration.

He warned against the belief that visas could simply be purchased, explaining that legitimate travel documents must be obtained through appropriate channels.

Similarly, Mercy Isibor, STEAP Desk Officer at the Edo State Ministry of Education, urged students to share the knowledge gained through the programme with their colleagues and communities.

Representing the Commissioner for Education, Washington Usifo, she said the state’s investment in education could be undermined if children remained vulnerable to trafficking and exploitation.

She encouraged students to report suspicious approaches to teachers, guidance counsellors, club coordinators and school principals rather than remain silent.

The Vice-Principal of Umagbae Secondary School, Philomena Ogbewe, commended the organisers, describing the programme as beneficial to students and teachers.

The School Anti-Trafficking Education and Advocacy Project is supported by the Government of the Netherlands and seeks to prevent human trafficking among school-age children through education, awareness campaigns and community engagement.

Its activities cover Edo, Delta, Ogun, Benue and Enugu states.

Traffickers Target Schoolchildren With Fake Scholarships, Jobs, Private Photo Threats – NAPTIP