By NAN

The Network Against Child Trafficking, Abuse and Labour (NACTAL) has called on traditional and religious leaders to join the campaign against trafficking in persons.

The call was made in Abuja by NACTAL President, Mr Abdulganiyu Abubakar, during the European Union Film Exhibition to drive the campaign against human trafficking, smuggling and irregular migration.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the film exhibition was part of the activities lined up to celebrate the EU Anti-trafficking Day usually marked Oct.18.

He called on the government to continue supporting interventions against human trafficking through ministries, departments and agencies with anti-human trafficking mandate particularly National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP)

Abubakar who also called for more funding for NAPTIP and other related agencies; saying that with such support, trafficking would be reduced.

He noted that with the presence of security personnel at the points of entry and exit, traffickers are now changing their strategies, by luring their victims through social media and sport means.

He, therefore, encouraged organisations to invest in ventures like: movies, music, to drive the campaign against trafficking and other migration vices.

Speaking also, NAPTIP Director-General, Mr Fatima Waziri-Azi, stressed the need for  more efforts on the preventive measures in order to eliminate the scourge, adding that regular campaign would help prevent it.

Represented by Mr Olubiyi Olusayo, NAPTIP Director of Research and Development, she stated that trafficking issues must be eliminated from the grassroot through preventive campaign drive.

She advocated for awareness and advocacy in the remotes area, as well as schools to catch the youths when they are still young.

Waziri-Azi also called for the coming together of stakeholders with concerted efforts, adding that it would help to defeat trafficking.

The director-general described as good, the three movies shown which all talked about how human  trafficking started in the Nigeria.

“The film is not only an entertainment, it has sent the message to the people, traffickers days are numbered,” she said. (NAN)