Facebook parent company Meta has partnered with the National Agency For The Prohibition Of Trafficking In Persons (NAPTIP) to launch the ‘AMBER Alert’ program in Nigeria to enable faster response in finding missing children as well as enhancing investigation and rescue efforts.
AMBER Alert is an emergency response system that disseminates information about a missing person (usually a child), through media broadcasting or electronic roadway signs.
It also helps with information sharing on Facebook and Instagram whenever a child goes missing. The alerts will include important details about the missing child such as location, photo, description, and other available information that will be provided which can be shared with friends to enhance widespread publicity.
The AMBER Alert Programme was Launched on Facebook in 2015, and since then has assisted in numerous successful child endangerment cases in the US and around the world.
Speaking on the launch of the program in Nigeria, the Director General of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) Dr. Fatima Waziri-Azi said, “We are happy to be partnering with Meta to launch the AMBER Alert Programme on Facebook and Instagram to help ensure faster response in finding missing children.
“With these alerts, more people can be on the lookout for kids reported missing in their vicinity and report all leads to relevant authorities. NAPTIP cherishes every aspect of the intended collaboration and we are indeed glad to be on board with Meta to help find missing children in Nigeria.”
Also speaking at the launch event, Meta’s director of trust and safety, Emily Vacher said “The program is designed to include important information about the missing child such as a photo description, location of the abduction, and other relevant and available information to aid in immediately identifying the missing child.
“Already available across 28 countries globally, we are proud to partner with NAPTIP to make ‘Amber Alerts’ available in Nigeria — the second African country to join this program.
“When there is a reported case of a missing child, the most valuable thing one can do is share information as quickly as possible.
“By working with law enforcement in helping to share the right information with the right people, we hope that missing children will be safely reunited with their families faster.”
Following the launch of AMBER Alerts in Nigeria, Meta and NAPTIP will take out time to educate users on how to identify AMBER Alerts on their Facebook and Instagram feeds, and also notify them on what to do when they see an alert.