The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) has solicited press collaboration to combat human trafficking and expose abusers.
Mr Nduka Nwanwenne, Zonal Commander, made the call on Monday at the Devatop Centre for African Development’s two-day course on Countering Trafficking in Persons for Journalists in Asaba.
Devatop is a non-profit organisation dedicated to preventing human trafficking, gender-based violence, educating vulnerable children, and empowering women and adolescents.
Nwanwenne asked media to work together to combat human exploitation via their reporting.
“The media must be professional and have a moral obligation to report the truth.” “They have a responsibility to publish facts that you know about, not speculation or fabrication to suit your purposes,” he remarked.
Nwanwenne also urged the media to think on how to effectively combat the problem of human exploitation.
Mr. Isaiah Bozimo, Delta State’s Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, said that the media plays an essential role in exposing the operations of people traffickers.
Bozimo, represented by Mr Felix Ofou, Board Chairman of Delta Broadcasting Service, said that human exploitation coverage was previously top page news.
“I don’t recall seeing that in a newspaper or on television.”
“The media has remained silent on the issue of human traffickers.” Human trafficking is a problem that requires journalists’ contribution, thus the media must help efforts to put an end to the scourge.
“For every hundred rescued, perhaps thousands have died, so we need to put our heads together and stay the course,” he added.
Mrs. Ijeoma Nwanze of the Delta State Taskforce Against Human Trafficking urged media to use their reporting to help victims of human trafficking.
Nwanze urged journalists to take advantage of the training to bridge the gap between reporters and news sources.
She also urged media to help the battle against illegal migration and human trafficking.
