HUMAN TRAFFICKING

This study examines the role of immigration in Nigeria’s national security, with particular attention to the opportunities and challenges associated with cross-border migration. Immigration has become a major issue in contemporary international relations due to increasing globalization, economic integration, armed conflicts, and regional mobility within West Africa. Nigeria, as one of Africa’s largest economies and a strategic regional power, experiences significant inflows of migrants from neighboring countries, which has implications for its political stability, economic development, and internal security. The study explores how irregular migration, porous borders, human trafficking, smuggling, terrorism, and transnational crimes contribute to national security concerns in Nigeria. It also investigates the positive contributions of immigration, including labor supply, cultural integration, economic growth, and regional cooperation. The research adopts a qualitative approach using secondary data obtained from textbooks, journal articles, government publications, reports from international organizations, and relevant media sources. Theoretical frameworks such as the Human Security Theory and Migration Theory are employed to analyze the relationship between immigration and national security. Findings reveal that weak border management, inadequate immigration policies, corruption, and limited surveillance mechanisms have increased Nigeria’s vulnerability to insecurity, including insurgency, banditry, kidnapping, and illegal arms trafficking. However, the study also finds that effective immigration management can enhance national development, regional peace, and socio-economic stability. The study concludes that immigration plays a dual role in Nigeria’s national security by serving as both a potential threat and a tool for national development when properly regulated. It therefore recommends stronger border control measures, improved intelligence sharing, modernization of immigration systems, regional collaboration among ECOWAS member states, and comprehensive policy reforms aimed at balancing national security with human rights and regional integration.

This study is aimed at accessing the perception of teachers towards human trafficking of female students in secondary schools in Ikpoba Hill in Ikpoba-Okha Local Government Area of Edo State to ascertain the view of teachers and provide information for policy response that could assist in tackling the problem of human trafficking among female students in the study area. Specifically, the following questions were raised and answered : What is the perception of teachers towards trafficking of female secondary school students in Ikpoba Hill? What is the nature and trend of female students trafficking in secondary school in the study area? What are the causes of human trafficking of female students in secondary school in the study area? What is the effect of trafficking on the education of female students in secondary school in the study area? What are the current ameliorating measures of female students trafficking in secondary school in the study area? The quantitative design using descriptive survey method was adopted for the study. From the target population, 200 teachers from selected econdary
schools in the area of study were randomly chosen as samples for the study. The data collected with a structured questionnaire was analysed and the findings revealed that there is high incidence of trafficking of female students of secondary school in the study area,the students from poor and less privileged homes in the society are more vulnerable to trafficking because female students in the study area are mainly from poor background, broken homes, unemployment of parents and the need to better improve family standard of living. Recommendations were made based on findings.