Edo Migration Agency Blames AI For Increased Trafficked Victims

Director-General of the Edo Migration Agency, Mr Lucky Agazuma, has raised the alarm over the use of Artificial Intelligence by human traffickers to lure victims to poverty-stricken countries.

Agazuma said AI was being used to make some countries attractive and beautiful.

The agency boss spoke in Benin City at the opening of a three-day capacity-building workshop on the Risks and Realities of Migration.

Agazuma explained that the workshop aimed to raise strategic awareness of the risks and realities of irregular migration.

He said his visit to Burkina Faso to rescue some trafficked victims opened his eyes to the fact that Nigeria remained a better place to live in.

Agazuma said Kano State has taken over Edo as the hub of human trafficking and irregular migration due to increased awareness and sustained fight against traffickers.

According to him, “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 urged parents to take care of their children so that the children could talk to them when they are approached by traffickers.

National Coordinator of Civil Society Network on Migration and Development, Emeka Obieze, said the people would be better informed on migration policy.