The Director-General of the Edo Migration Agency, Mr. Lucky Agazuma, has raised the alarm over the growing use of Artificial Intelligence by human traffickers to lure victims to poverty-stricken countries.
Agazuma made the disclosure in Benin City at the opening of a three-day capacity-building workshop on the Risks and Realities of Migration. He explained that the workshop was aimed at raising strategic awareness of the dangers and realities of irregular migration.
According to him, traffickers are increasingly using AI tools to make certain countries appear attractive and beautiful online, masking the harsh realities that await victims upon arrival.
Agazuma shared that his recent visit to Burkina Faso to rescue trafficked victims opened his eyes to the fact that Nigeria remains a better place to live compared to many of the destinations where people are being taken.
He also noted that Kano State has overtaken Edo as the current hub of human trafficking and irregular migration, attributing the shift to increased awareness and the sustained fight against traffickers in Edo State.
“Some people now take advantage of AI to showcase that the place they are being trafficked to is quite colourful. Whereas at times, it can be worse than the real situation that they think they are. We are not against anybody travelling, but travel the right way. That’s what we are soliciting for. This is a way of exposing those using AI to paint their surroundings as if all is good, whereas others are at risk of sextortion, organ harvesting, slavery, and so many other social vices that are not actually favourable. A girl we rescued came back blind. Nigeria is better than many of those countries,” Agazuma said.
He urged parents to take better care of their children and maintain open communication so that young people can confide in them when approached by traffickers.
Also speaking, the National Coordinator of the Civil Society Network on Migration and Development, Emeka Obieze, said the workshop would help participants become better informed about migration policies and the risks associated with irregular movement.
