ADDRESSING HUMAN TRAFFICKING SCOURGE THROUGH COMMUNITY-BASED PARTICIPATORY EDUCATION PROGRAMME

Abstract

Purpose: Human trafficking is a fast growing international organized crime which is draining Nigeria of its vibrant and talented youths and the nation’s future leaders.  In spite of the various strategies of stemming the menace, the business still persists due to the fact that the people living in the red-spot areas are not involved in the efforts towards tackling the menace.  Hence, the adoption of community-based participatory education programmes involving the study’s residents’ full participation to address the menace. Methodology: The study adopted a quantitative and qualitative approach involving Focus Group Discussion (FGD) using one hundred and sixty participants selected through cluster sampling technique in two locations of Shaki and Ago-Amodu of Oyo State, Nigeria.  Two research questions and one hypothesis were employed and analysed through the use of Analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA) statistical test. Findings: Among other findings, this study identified poverty, unemployment, illiteracy, lack of stiffer policy by the government as factors encouraging human trafficking menace.  However, it is recommended that the government should pass and implement stiffer policy such as life imprisonment for offenders and organization of regular educational training that would involve the people living in the communities notable for the act to broaden their knowledge towards the evils of human trafficking.  Also the youths should form strong vanguard towards monitoring the activities of the traffickers and embark on public awareness programme to eradicate the menace in their communities.