Anti-trafficking awareness at Yelwata IDP Camp was the focus of an oversight and impact visit by delegates from the Government of the Netherlands on 18 February 2026.
The visit took place under the School Anti-Trafficking Education and Advocacy Project (STEAP), implemented by the International Centre for Migration Policy Development. It gave partners an opportunity to engage beneficiaries directly and assess community sensitisation led by OWACDO in Benue State.
More than 1,000 displaced people join the session
Over 1,000 internally displaced people participated in the awareness activity. The Director General of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons briefed participants on trafficking in persons, common recruitment tactics and practical prevention strategies.
Displaced communities can face heightened risks when poverty, insecurity and urgent needs make deceptive job, travel or support offers appear attractive. Accessible information helps people pause, verify claims and recognise warning signs before exploitation occurs.
Beneficiaries demonstrate stronger understanding
A notable part of the visit was the confidence of IDP representatives as they explained trafficking risks and how awareness activities had strengthened protection in the camp. Their responses offered practical evidence that the messages were being understood rather than merely delivered.
Direct beneficiary feedback also helps programme partners assess what is working and where continued sensitisation or referral support may be needed.
Partnerships that protect vulnerable communities
The oversight visit reaffirmed the value of sustained partnership among donors, implementing agencies, government institutions and local organisations. Each has a different role, but community trust is essential to the success of every intervention.
Through STEAP, OWACDO continues to bring prevention information closer to people facing heightened vulnerability. The Yelwata visit showed how locally led awareness can strengthen knowledge, confidence and community resilience against trafficking.