NIDO Africa Raises Alarm Over Human Trafficking, Educates Benue Students
- Mar 7
- 2 min read
The Nigerians in Diaspora Organization Africa (NIDO Africa) has intensified its campaign against human trafficking and drug abuse by sensitising secondary school students in Benue State on the dangers of illegal migration and exploitation.
The awareness programme was held at Padopas Harmony Secondary School in Makurdi, where students were educated on how trafficking networks operate and the risks young people face when lured with promises of better opportunities abroad.
Speaking during the outreach, the Continental Chairman of the organisation, Jude Osakwe, said the initiative forms part of a broader grassroots strategy aimed at preventing children from becoming victims of trafficking syndicates. According to him, many young Nigerians are deceived with promises of jobs and improved living conditions overseas but end up in exploitative situations.
He explained that girls trafficked across borders are often forced into prostitution, while boys are commonly subjected to forced labour. In some cases, victims are reportedly trafficked for organ harvesting, making early education and awareness critical.
Osakwe revealed that the organisation had rescued more than 2,000 Nigerian children from trafficking networks in neighbouring countries within the past year. Most of the victims, he noted, were between the ages of 10 and 15 and were recovered primarily from trafficking routes across West Africa.
To reinforce the message, NIDO Africa distributed flyers, textbooks and customised notebooks containing anti-trafficking messages to students during the programme.
Also speaking at the event, representatives of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) commended the initiative, describing public awareness as a crucial tool in preventing human trafficking and protecting young people from exploitation.
Officials urged communities to remain vigilant and report suspected trafficking cases to authorities, stressing that collaboration between government agencies, diaspora groups and local communities is essential in addressing the growing threat.
School authorities welcomed the sensitisation programme, noting that it provided students with critical information about the realities of trafficking and drug abuse, while encouraging them to make informed decisions about their future. Students who participated in the session described the programme as enlightening and pledged to share the knowledge with their peers and families.
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