The Director-General of the National Agency for Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), Binta Adamu Bello, has called on religious leaders and faith-based organisations to collaborate with NAPTIP in the fight against human trafficking, irregular migration, smuggling of migrants, and violence against persons.

She emphasised the need to institutionalise safer migration pathways and reduce the vulnerability of Nigerians to exploitation.

Meanwhile, the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) has unveiled a National Policy and Implementation Framework and the Handbook on Pastoral Care of Migration in Nigeria.

Speaking at the Annual Capacity Building Support Programme for Migrant and Refugee Service Coordinators in Nigeria, organised by the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria (CSN) in Abuja, Bello said that the fight against irregular migration and human trafficking demands the active partnership of religious institutions, civil society, and local communities.

Bello observed that the agency understands the complex and often dangerous link between irregular migration, human trafficking, smuggling of migrants, and various forms of violence against persons.

She noted that many victims—especially women and children—fall prey to traffickers due to gaps in knowledge, lack of guidance, and the absence of community-based support systems, and reaffirmed NAPTIP’s commitment to social justice, human rights, and the protection of migrants and refugees in Nigeria.

Bello described the launch of the framework as a significant step forward in the collective effort to professionalise migration practices and protect human dignity.

She stated that the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria, through this initiative, is helping to bridge that gap by equipping faith-based actors and stakeholders with knowledge, ethical frameworks, and trusted guides for vulnerable persons in our community.

Bello pointed out that NAPTIP remains open to working with the Catholic Secretariat and all relevant actors and encourages case referrals to ensure timely intervention, information sharing for intelligence gathering and investigation, and cooperation on reintegration efforts for returnees and survivors of trafficking.

In his opening remarks, the Director of Church and Society of CSN, Fr. Peter Audu, said that the news of the 78 repatriated girls from Côte d’Ivoire to Nigeria just a few days ago highlights the ugly trend of migration, adding that this indicates that migration is a human activity.

He, however, noted that we should not be shocked when we come across the negative effects of migration as a result of inadequate policies to allow for legitimate migration.

Audu observed that Nigeria had a record of 3.2 million displaced persons, which raises concerns amidst the growing violent attacks that have persisted from 2021 until recently.

He noted that recent data from the Internal Migration Trends in Nigeria, produced by the United Nations in 2021, highlighted that 60% of women and 50% of men in Nigeria have migrated at some point in their lives, all in search of greener pastures.

Audu stated that violent conflicts, climatic conditions such as drought and flooding, and the activities of terrorist organisations have also contributed to forced migration within and outside the country.

He said, “A couple of weeks ago, I visited Plateau State and spoke with one of the priests in charge of a parish located in a community affected by the incessant killings in the State. He narrated the plight of community members who have fled their homes and are living in IDP camps and host communities with little or no means of survival.

“This situation mirrors the scenarios in Katsina-Ala in Benue State, Jere in Borno State, Anka in Zamfara State, and other parts of Nigeria acting as host communities to both legal/illegal migrants, refugees, and internally displaced persons. This trend represents a crisis that necessitates local action to address the rising migration concerns, which have become a national endemic.”

Also speaking, the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) Episcopal Chairman, Most Rev. Dr. Yohanna Bulus, noted that migration is not merely a political, social, or economic reality.

“For us, as a people of faith, it is also a deeply spiritual reality; it is a theological journey that echoes several biblical narratives and the lived experiences of our Lord Jesus Christ and the Holy Family.”

Bulus, who was represented by Most Rev. Dr. Anselm Umoren, observed that there should be deep anguish if the Church were to neglect the spiritual and material needs of migrants.

He recalled that with his pastoral sensitivity and unwavering commitment to the dignity of every person, the late Pope Francis brought the plight of migrants and refugees back to the centre of the Church’s witness to the world and taught the Church that migration is not a threat, but an opportunity to affirm our common humanity and to live out the Gospel in action.

“This training, therefore, is not simply about acquiring new skills. It is about deepening our theological vision, renewing our pastoral commitment, and equipping ourselves to be credible witnesses of God’s mercy and justice to our displaced brothers and sisters.”

In his remarks, Minister of Foreign Affairs Ambassador Yusuf Maitama Tuggar described the event as a significant milestone in our collective efforts to support and uplift vulnerable communities affected by migration.

Tuggar stated that by equipping agents of pastoral care with essential skills and knowledge, we are not only enhancing their capacity but also strengthening our resolve to provide compassionate support to those in need.

He stressed the need to uphold the dignity and rights of migrants and refugees. May this program foster greater understanding, empathy, and collaboration.

The minister commended the Catholic Church’s unwavering leadership in the field of humanitarian service and highlighted the need to foster a society where no one is left behind, regardless of origin, status, or circumstance.