The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons announced on Wednesday that it has rescued 156 victims of human trafficking since January 2026. The agency also repatriated over 300 others from Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire in 2025.
This news comes as NAPTIP warned that criminal networks have shifted their activities from brothels and farms to online platforms. Now, educated Nigerian graduates are being tricked into scam operations across Southeast Asia.
Binta Bello, the Director-General of NAPTIP, shared this information at a press conference in Abuja. The event marked the lead-up to the 2026 World Day Against Trafficking in Persons, which is celebrated on July 30 each year. Representatives from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, the International Organisation for Migration, and the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands were present.
The theme for this year’s event is ‘Trapped Behind the Scam.’ Bello explained, “Many young people, especially those with higher education and skills, are attracted by promises of good jobs abroad in fields like IT, digital marketing, and telecommunications.
“Once they arrive in other countries, especially in Asia, they find that the jobs do not exist. Instead, their passports are taken away, and they lose their freedom. They face threats, violence, and are forced to carry out online scams targeting unsuspecting victims worldwide.”
Bello described the problem as very serious. She said, “Around 300,000 people are trafficked into scam operations across Southeast Asia every year, generating about $64 billion. Victims come from about 66 countries, with approximately 74 percent of these scams located in the Mekong region, which includes Myanmar, Cambodia, Thailand, and Laos.”
She painted a grim picture of those trapped in these scams. “Those who cannot meet their targets are locked away, tortured, raped, or even have their organs removed. Families lose contact with their loved ones. Parents spend all their money trying to help what they think are legitimate overseas opportunities.
“Without trying to be alarmist, the new face of human trafficking is frightening and dangerous. It poses a serious threat to our country and can harm future generations.”
Bello explained how traffickers recruit victims. “First, they contact victims through social media job listings with promises of overseas work or scholarships. They arrange visas and flights, then take the victims’ passports once they arrive. The second step involves building trust through encrypted messaging apps to isolate the victims from their families.
“The third step includes a travel fee paid through informal channels. Finally, in the last step, victims are held in compounds, forced to run scams while facing constant threats.”
On local efforts, Bello mentioned that NAPTIP’s Cyber Response Team has shut down several scam centers in Nigeria. They arrested people involved in Yahoo Plus, Yahoo Extra, and Hustle Kingdom networks training young men in financial and sexual extortion. She confirmed that those arrested are facing prosecution.
“Not long ago, I led an operation based on reliable information. We rescued 46 suspected victims of human trafficking at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, who were being sent to dangerous countries in the Middle East. We also rescued about 120 victims in Kano,” she said.
Regarding prosecutions, Bello stated that NAPTIP has achieved 839 convictions since it started. Between January and July 2026, they secured 47 convictions alone.
“NAPTIP has exposed human traffickers, including those once thought untouchable. Recently, a high-profile trafficker and his wife were convicted in Ondo State, and properties worth millions of naira were seized,” she said.
Cheik Touré, the UNODC Country Representative, emphasized that fighting trafficking needs more than just law enforcement. He said, “It requires serious investment in economic opportunities for young Nigerians. Trafficking thrives where there are few legitimate jobs. Young people who cannot find work at home are easy targets for traffickers.
“Investing in youth is not just a development priority, it is a vital defense against trafficking.” He urged media organizations to report responsibly, saying, “We need accurate reporting. Help hold people accountable and share stories that restore dignity to those exploited.”
Dimanche Sharon from IOM shared that their data shows young people are mostly affected by trafficking. Those aged 18 to 25 make up about 54 percent of the victims they assist. Meanwhile, 93 percent of the migrants they support are between 18 and 49 years old.
“Since 2017, IOM has helped more than 7,600 trafficking victims in Nigeria, providing services for their recovery and reintegration,” she said. She stressed that victims forced into online fraud should be treated as victims, not criminals.
“Trafficking for forced criminality is still trafficking. Victims should be protected and supported, not punished,” she added.
Isabelle Wolfsgruber, the Head of ICMPD Nigeria, said they have reached over 80,000 students and many teachers and parents through their Anti-Trafficking Education Project funded by the Netherlands. They set up 136 School Anti-Trafficking Vanguard Clubs where students discuss risks.
“In Ogun State, a father lost his daughter to trafficking. Instead of staying silent, he now works with us to educate communities about the warning signs,” Wolfsgruber said.
She also mentioned that ICMPD, along with NAPTIP and CIVIPOL, has trained over 345 investigators and judicial officers on cybercrime and digital evidence linked to trafficking.
Sib Siebesma from the Dutch Embassy discussed their funding for various trafficking prevention programs in Nigeria. He highlighted their commitment to helping Nigeria tackle trafficking and irregular migration.
For the 2026 World Day Against Trafficking in Persons, activities include a sensitization exercise on July 24, a thanksgiving service on July 26, awareness walks, and a main commemoration event on July 30.
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