Posted by The Cybersecurity Response Team has been established by the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons, or NAPTIP, to handle any matters connected to online exploitation.
The team was constituted by the Director General, Prof. Fatima Waziri, according to Ekrika Effeh, NAPTIP Zonal Commander for the states of Osun, Ondo, Ekiti, and Kwara.
Effeh also disclosed intentions for the agency to collaborate with select CSOs to combat online sexual exploitation and other related crimes.
When the NGO Motivators Creed Africa and other leaders of non-governmental organizations paid a courtesy call to the agency’s Zonal Command on Friday in Osogbo, the Zonal Commander let them know.
Effeh predicted that the trip would help in the fight against human trafficking, which has evolved into a new category of online crimes.
He also praised the Director General for the tremendous work he had done in reducing human trafficking nationwide, but particularly in his region.
In order to further educate the general public about the risks involved with human trafficking and other related offenses, NAPTIP will continue to collaborate with like-minded civil society organizations.
“Human trafficking is now an international crime that is not just prevalent in Africa or Nigeria. The vulnerable will greatly benefit from the preventative steps.
“We will continue to collaborate, raise awareness, make arrests, pursue prosecution, engage in rehabilitation work, and create a society free from any form of human trafficking,” Effeh declared.
Additionally, he added, “The Zone will continue to collaborate with stakeholders to successfully carry out the agency’s mandate.”
Nwokocha Chijioke, Executive Director of Motivators Creed Africa, had earlier stated that the purpose of the familiarization tour was to collaborate with the organization in the fight against any kind of human impunity, including people trafficking through cybercrime and other associated offenses.
Chijioke added that the current economic climate has made it common for young people who are weak to be transported across borders and used for sex slavery and other sorts of exploitation.
He claimed that the ‘Japa’ syndrome, which encourages people to fly abroad in search of unattainable professions, has given the movement a new twist.
He stated, “We are prepared to partner with the agency in order to bring the crusade to the state’s rural areas and other regions.”