As human traffickers continue to evolve tactics luring young people into their nets, Director General of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons, (NAPTIP), Professor Fatima Waziri-Azi, has caution the youth to beware of individuals always posing as helpers because that is a major effective tactics employed by human traffickers.

She stated this while addressing management and students of Government Day Secondary School, Dutsen Alhaji, Abuja, in commemoration of the 16 Days Activism Against Gender Based Violence and the setting up of the agency’s Ant-Trafficking in Persons Vanguard in partnership with Ford Foundation.

The DG notes that the primary objective of the Vanguard is to provide a platform for students to be educated and enlighten on issues related to human trafficking and violence against persons.

In a communiqué signed by the NAPTIP’’s Press officer, Vincent Adekoye, she said highlighted ongoing effort to inaugurate more vanguards in schools emphasizing the responsibility of students as advocates against the crime of trafficking in persons, recognizing the red flags.

“This is why since last year, we have been inaugurating Vanguards in secondary schools, a platform for you to sensitize yourselves and sensitize others using the whole of school and whole of family approach.

“So far, we have inaugurated 203 Vanguards across the country comprising federal government unity schools, military schools, faith based schools and Abuja school for the deaf,” she adds.

While appreciating efforts of the anti-trafficking agency Principal of the school, Emmanuel Ayodeji, expressed commitment to supporting NAPTIP realise it’s mandate.