Lagos: The International Organization for Migration (IOM) has called for stronger collaboration among governments, law enforcement agencies, and international partners to combat human trafficking. Officials of the organisation made the call during a question-and-answer session at an ongoing three-day training programme for journalists on Tuesday in Lagos.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the theme of the training is: ‘From Headlines to Impact: A Capacity Building on Ethical and Data-driven Reporting on Migration in Nigeria.’ IOM Project Assistant, Mrs. Fatima Adeyemi, emphasized that the responsibility for investigating and prosecuting traffickers in Nigeria primarily lies with the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP). IOM collaborates closely with NAPTIP and other stakeholders to ensure victims receive protection while perpetrators are brought to justice.
Adeyemi highlighted recent engagements with the judiciary, including judges and Senior Advocates of Nigeria, aimed at strengthening the prosecution and adjudication of trafficking-related offences. The focus is on improving the legal response to trafficking and ensuring offenders face appropriate sanctions.
In his remarks, Mr. Ali Ali Ibrahim, Head of IOM Lagos Sub-Office, stated that the organisation acts as a technical partner to governments, supporting migration-related issues. Although IOM lacks a prosecutorial mandate, it aids governments through advocacy, technical assistance, migration data, and direct protection services for vulnerable migrants. The organisation draws international attention to trafficking issues through research findings and operational evidence.
Ibrahim mentioned IOM’s work with member states to enhance legislation, prosecutorial capacities, and provide technical support in addressing trafficking and migrant smuggling. He outlined the direct protection assistance IOM offers to trafficked and smuggled persons, facilitating their removal from exploitative situations and connecting them with support services.
Describing trafficking in persons as a transnational crime requiring coordinated action across countries and institutions, Ibrahim noted IOM’s ongoing support to governments in building regional alliances and strengthening international cooperation to dismantle trafficking networks. He urged journalists and the public to report cases involving trafficked or vulnerable migrants, assuring that IOM would facilitate access to protection and assistance.
Ibrahim also identified the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime and other international agencies as key partners in the global fight against human trafficking. He stressed the necessity for information sharing, collective action, and sustained partnerships to effectively tackle trafficking and migrant exploitation across the region.