The American multinational technology company, Meta has revealed today that it is bringing AMBER Alerts to Facebook and Instagram in Nigeria, launched in partnership with the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons, NAPTIP to increase the chances of finding missing children by increasing the number of people on the lookout.
According to the American tech giant, with this update, once the AMBER Alert is activated by NAPTIP or any other relevant law enforcement agencies within the designated search area, the alert will appear in Facebook and Instagram feeds.
At the same time, the alerts also include important details about the missing child, such as a photo, description, location of the abduction, and other available information that can be provided and can be shared with friends to spread the word.
Speaking on the new AMBER Alert, Dr. Fatima Waziri-Azi, the Director General of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons, said that more people can be on the lookout for kids reported missing in their vicinity and report all leads to relevant authorities.
In her words: “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.”
As far back as 2015, Meta introduced AMBER Alerts. The alerts had assisted in hundreds of successful child endangerment cases in the United States and worldwide.
When turned on, the alert uses several indications, such as the city you mention on your profile, your IP address, and location services, to determine who should see the warnings. AMBER Alerts have grown to be a crucial part of how Meta helps communities protect children, and we hope to keep up the good work.
