Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Gabriel Osa
Abuja — Nigeria’s National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) has uncovered a disturbing new pattern in human trafficking that involves luring Nigerian youths abroad under false pretences and coercing them into cybercrime syndicates in Southeast Asia. In a coordinated operation concluded this week, the agency successfully rescued and repatriated 23 Nigerian victims who had been trafficked to countries including Thailand, Myanmar, Laos and Cambodia, where they were forced to engage in online fraud and related criminal activities.
The victims, described by NAPTIP as mostly young Nigerians with information technology skills, were reportedly enticed with promises of scholarships, high-paying jobs and legitimate employment opportunities overseas. Instead, upon arrival in their destinations they found themselves in controlled environments where they were compelled to participate in romance scams, cryptocurrency fraud, investment scams and other forms of cyber-enabled deception targeting individuals and businesses across multiple continents. The scale and sophistication of the exploitation have prompted renewed concern among anti-trafficking advocates and law enforcement officials about the evolving methods of transnational human traffickers.
Director-General of NAPTIP, Binta Adamu Bello, described the development as a “disturbing evolution” in the human trafficking landscape, highlighting the trend of criminal networks deliberately targeting educated and skilled young Nigerians. In statements issued during briefings with journalists, Bello emphasised that traffickers are now recruiting individuals with clean health records and specialised technical skills under the guise of professional training or academic advancement, only to exploit them for fraudulent operations once they reach their destinations abroad.
“These organised criminal syndicates are no longer focusing solely on vulnerable, unskilled populations,” Bello explained. “They are deliberately recruiting vibrant, intelligent youths with IT and computer skills, persuading them to travel under the pretext of opportunity, and then forcing them into illegal activities under threat and intimidation.”
According to NAPTIP, the rescued youths described being housed in hostels and monitored by enforcers while being assigned daily fraud targets. Some were enrolled in language programmes to serve as translators or customer service operatives for the syndicates’ online scams. Many were supplied with necessary equipment and coerced to meet increasingly punitive quotas. Those who resisted or failed to comply, the victims disclosed, faced severe punishment, including physical intimidation and threats of harm.
The agency’s rescue operation was carried out in collaboration with civil society partners, including Eden, a non-governmental organisation based in Myanmar, as well as support from the British Government and the Nigerian Embassy in Bangkok, Thailand. The diplomatic mission in Bangkok facilitated the issuance of emergency travel documentation that enabled the safe return of the repatriated Nigerians. The transnational cooperation reflects growing recognition among governments and international partners that organised trafficking networks linked to cybercrime require a coordinated response.
Following their return to Nigeria, the 23 rescued individuals are now undergoing profiling, counselling and rehabilitation as NAPTIP continues its investigation into the syndicate responsible for their exploitation. The agency has reiterated its commitment to dismantling the criminal networks involved and prosecuting those found culpable under Nigeria’s anti-trafficking statutes.
Human trafficking remains a significant challenge in Nigeria, with previous operations revealing victims trafficked for various forms of exploitation, including forced labour and sexual exploitation. However, the use of cybercrime as a mechanism of exploitation marks a notable shift in trafficking modalities and underscores the adaptability of criminal networks in leveraging technological skills to expand illicit operations across borders.
Analysts say the convergence of human trafficking and cybercrime represents a complex criminal ecosystem that takes advantage of global connectivity. By targeting youths with digital skills, traffickers are able to extend their reach into international fraud markets while evading detection by exploiting jurisdictions with varying levels of law enforcement capacity. This has raised alarm among international law enforcement agencies, who are increasingly focusing on disrupting cross-border trafficking corridors and developing frameworks to share intelligence effectively.
Experts in anti-trafficking policy have also warned of the psychological and socioeconomic toll human trafficking places on victims and their families. Those who are repatriated often require significant support to recover from trauma and reintegrate into their communities. Rehabilitation programmes typically involve medical care, psychological counselling, vocational training and assistance in rebuilding social and family networks. NAPTIP officials have indicated that such support services are being mobilised for the newly returned victims.
The revelations of this latest rescue operation have prompted calls from civil society organisations and human rights groups for strengthened public awareness campaigns. Advocates are urging government agencies to enhance preventive measures, including more robust public education to help Nigerians discern legitimate opportunities from fraudulent offers, and improved screening processes for overseas employment programmes. Such measures, they argue, are critical to reducing vulnerability to trafficking and exploitation.
Additionally, calls are growing for comprehensive international legal cooperation to ensure traffickers who operate across multiple jurisdictions can be effectively prosecuted. Experts note that while national agencies such as NAPTIP play a central role in frontline rescue operations, the transnational nature of these criminal networks demands sustained diplomatic engagement and shared enforcement mechanisms among affected countries.
In response to the operation, Nigerian authorities have reiterated advisories to young Nigerians and job seekers to exercise caution in responding to unsolicited overseas job or scholarship offers, particularly those that lack clear documentation or credible verification. They stressed that traffickers often exploit economic hardship and youth unemployment to recruit unsuspecting individuals, promising opportunities that ultimately lead to exploitation.
The successful rescue and repatriation of these 23 Nigerian youths highlights both the resilience of those targeted and the critical importance of international collaboration in combating evolving forms of human trafficking. As investigations proceed and support services are provided to survivors, authorities have pledged to intensify efforts to identify and dismantle the networks involved, seeking to prevent future exploitation and safeguard vulnerable populations.
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