By Mustapha Adamu, Kano
Kano State has been identified as the third state in Nigeria with the highest rate of human trafficking, the Civil Society Organisation for Conflict Resolution in Nigeria (CS-CRIN) has said.
The organisation’s Executive Director, Adeniyi Aremu, disclosed this on Thursday in Kano during a one-day media briefing on a new project aimed at strengthening community resilience and institutional capacity to combat human trafficking in the state.
The project, titled “Strengthening Community Resilience and Institutional Capacity to Address Human Trafficking in Kano State, Nigeria,” is being implemented in collaboration with the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) and media practitioners.
According to Aremu, Benue State currently ranks first, while Edo/Delta ranks second and Kano third.
He attributed Kano’s position partly to its large and densely populated communities, as well as its role as a transit and destination point for human trafficking networks.
> “Human trafficking in Nigeria as it is today, Kano ranks third after Benue. It used to be Edo/Delta, but now Benue is first, Edo/Delta second and Kano third. This is because of the population density,” Aremu said.
He explained that trafficking patterns differ across states, noting that in Benue, some victims are reportedly moved from rural and indigenous communities to urban centres for domestic work and, in some cases, onward movement across borders.
“In Kano, the current trend is that it has always been a destination and transit state for traffickers,” he said.
CS-CRIN, NAPTIP, Media Strengthen Anti-Trafficking Efforts
Aremu said the new project would focus on strengthening collaboration among government agencies, civil society organisations, the media and community structures to prevent human trafficking and improve support for victims and survivors.
He said the initiative, funded by the Resilience Fund through the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime (GI-TOC), would promote public awareness, community-based prevention mechanisms and responsible reporting of trafficking cases.
He added that the project would also strengthen the capacity of journalists to investigate trafficking-related issues, counter misinformation and protect the identities, dignity and rights of victims and survivors.
Participants at the media briefing examined emerging trends and patterns of human trafficking in Kano State, as well as the factors driving the crime.
They also discussed vulnerable groups and communities considered at greater risk and explored ways communities could contribute to preventing trafficking.
Stakeholders Call for Stronger Collaboration
The participants called for stronger cooperation among NAPTIP, CS-CRIN, media organisations, community leaders and other relevant stakeholders to improve the identification, referral and support of trafficking victims.
The meeting also examined the roles of paralegals and Journalists Against Transnational Organised Crime (JATOC) in strengthening efforts to combat human trafficking.
The formation of JATOC was announced as one of the immediate outcomes of the media briefing.
Participants further identified areas for sustained media collaboration and joint advocacy to promote stronger community and institutional responses to human trafficking in Kano State.
The organisers said the initiative would continue to support community-led approaches to preventing human trafficking and tackling organised crime in the state.
Never miss a moment! Get the stories shaping Nigeria, delivered straight to your phone. Follow Peoplesdaily Newspaper on WhatsApp for breaking news, exclusive reports, and the headlines everyone will be talking about, before anyone else.
