Key stakeholders in Nigeria have amplified their demands for more robust measures to tackle the pervasive issue of local human trafficking, emphasizing that this crime frequently unfolds within family circles and local communities yet continues to be widely ignored.
Survivors Take Centre Stage in Abuja Screening
The urgent appeal was made in Nigeria's capital, Abuja, during a special screening of short films produced by survivors. This initiative is part of a project by the Media and Creative Arts for Human Trafficking (MeCAHT) coalition, which receives support from the Austrian Embassy.
The event comes on the heels of a recent alert issued by Binta Adamu Bello, the Director-General of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP). She warned that victims are trafficked daily from rural areas to urban centres and across international borders for purposes including sexual exploitation, hazardous labour, and even recruitment into terrorist groups and armed conflicts.
A Shift in Perspective: Highlighting Internal Exploitation
Speaking at the event, the Austrian Ambassador to Nigeria, Peter Guschelbauer, explained that the project was intentionally crafted to place survivors at the heart of advocacy efforts. He stated that Austria's backing aligns with the global 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence campaign and reflects the nation's enduring partnership with MeCAHT.
"From a European perspective, we are often focused on the transnational trafficking aspects, of course, and the exploitation of vulnerable people in Europe," Guschelbauer said. "Here, we want to highlight other additional realities, like for example, internal trafficking, which is prevalent in Nigeria, and that it often occurs within family or community settings."
He stressed the need to broaden public understanding beyond cross-border movements and recognize patterns of local exploitation. The testimonies in the films, he noted, reveal the hidden reality of internal trafficking happening in homes and neighbourhoods. These films will be deployed in schools and communities as preventive tools against further victimization.
The ambassador also highlighted Austria's long-standing commitment to fighting this crime, referencing the establishment of a national task force in 2004 and its annual conference marking EU Anti-Trafficking Day.
Empowerment Through Digital Storytelling
James Ikape, the Executive Director of MeCAHT, detailed the organization's mission. Founded by Nigerians resolved to confront trafficking as part of rebuilding the nation, MeCAHT's latest project, "Beyond Care: Supporting Survivors of Human Trafficking," aims to deepen empowerment.
Ikape explained that while survivors in safe houses often learn trades like tailoring, digital storytelling provides an added layer of healing and agency. "We brought together Survivors of Human Trafficking, a small number, yes, but a huge impact, for a period of three weeks. During this time, they learned how to make videos from this work," he said.
The project has set concrete goals for its current phase in Abuja:
- Creating awareness among an initial 2,000 people, with plans to scale up in coming years.
- Establishing anti-trafficking clubs in five schools within Abuja, a target already achieved.
Ikape underscored a critical point: efforts to reduce cross-border trafficking will fail unless the domestic forms thriving within communities are addressed. MeCAHT plans to expand the project in 2026, using the developed film materials as long-term awareness tools.
MeCAHT operates as a media-driven coalition working to reduce human trafficking among vulnerable populations in Nigeria, South Africa, and Europe.
