April 23, (THEWILL) – No fewer than 15 journalists have been trained in Sokoto state on countering human trafficking by a non-profit organisation, DEVATOP Centre for Africa Development.
The trained journalists, according to DEVATOP Executive Director, Joseph Osuigwe, would be responsible for creating awareness, monitoring and reporting incidents of trafficking in persons (TIP) in the State.
He said the training, funded by USAID, under the Nigeria Strengthening Civic Advocacy and Local Engagement – Nigeria SCALE and implemented by Palladium, is part of the ‘Talkam’ Against Trafficking in Persons Project (TATIP), executed in Delta and Enugu states.
He noted that cases of human trafficking are underreported by the media in Nigeria, adding that the knowledge from the training would spur journalists in the affected states to report on trafficking issues.
According to him, “What we hear about human trafficking is far less than what happened. In fact, I can say, it is under-reported in Nigeria.
“When people see human trafficking, they have two choices: either to speak out and take action or to keep silent.
“But keeping silent doesn’t mean they are doing the right thing. Actually, they are wrong. They are indirectly in support of human trafficking. Osuigwe explained during his paper presentation.
He, however, underscored the need for media involvement in the fight against human trafficking, saying “human trafficking is bigger than what you think, and closer than you imagine.”
Osuigwe explained that through rigorous reportage, journalists can make perpetrators of human trafficking more dangerous than what they think.
The Executive Director urged the journalists to develop robust reporting that exposes the antics of human traffickers, as well as amplify voices of victims who are mostly unheard in the society.
In his remark, Deputy Coordinator, Network Against Child Trafficking, Abuse and Labour (NACTAL) in Sokoto state, Nasir Lawan, said the media has a better role to play in the fight against human trafficking due to the influence and privileged information they possess to inform the public.
He pledged that NACTAL, as a civil society, will continue to partner with all stakeholders to ensure that issues of trafficking in persons are reduced or discouraged in the society.
Chairman, Nigerian Union of Journalists in the state, Comrade Dalhatu Magori, commended DEVATOP and its partners for coming up with a project that up-skill the knowledge of working journalists on human trafficking in the state.
He, however, urged the participants to always uphold the ethics of journalism and objectivity in their daily reporting. While describing the media as main change agent in the society, he pleaded for more media engagement by all stakeholders to further combat human trafficking in the state
The NUJ Chairman, who presented a paper on Ethics of Journalism and Issue-Based Reporting, also inaugurated a forum of Journalists Against Trafficking In Persons (JATIP) in the state.
A paper; ‘Overview the activities of Trafficking in Persons, was delivered by Comrade Rabiu Bello Gandi, of Save The Child Initiative (STCI), while Understanding the 5 Ps of Countering Trafficking In Persons (TIP), were presented by Hassana Muhammad of Sokoto NAPTIP office.
Other papers presented include Countering trafficking in persons and the Roles of Journalists by State Acting Head, National Agency for Prohibition of Trafficking In Persons (NAPTIP), Abubakar Basiru, and Writing TIP Investigative Stories/Report with Victim’s Centered Approach by NAPTIP Press Officer, Mr Vincent Adekoye.
Tunde Omolehin is an award-winning Journalist with prose in investigative and storytelling that is connecting the dots between the under-reported communities and policymakers to ensure good governance and accountability.
