The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) has rescued and repatriated 23 Nigerian youths who were trafficked to Thailand and other Southeast Asian countries to engage in cyber-enabled crimes.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, Vincent Adekoye, the agency’s Head of Press and Public Relations, disclosed that the victims were recruited and transported to Thailand, Myanmar, Laos, and Cambodia, where they were compelled to participate in romance scams, cryptocurrency fraud, and investment schemes.
According to the agency, the traffickers deliberately targeted young Nigerians with strong academic backgrounds, computer proficiency, IT expertise, and clean personal records.
Director-General of NAPTIP, Binta Adamu Bello, OON, described the development as exposing “a new dimension of human trafficking that targets vibrant and skilled Nigerians.” She explained that the victims were deceived with promises of scholarships and legitimate employment opportunities abroad, only to be forced into fraudulent activities after arrival.
“The victims revealed that they were trained in various scamming techniques, sometimes learning new languages to serve as translators and customer care agents to deceive targets in the USA, UK, Ethiopia, and Canada,” Bello stated. “They were housed in hostels, monitored by mafia operatives, and tortured if they failed to meet quotas. Some victims who resisted were killed or had their organs harvested.”
The NAPTIP boss described the syndicate’s operations as deeply troubling but assured that the agency has revived its regional and international collaborations to dismantle the criminal network and prosecute those responsible.
The agency also acknowledged the support of civil society organisations in Southeast Asia, the British Government, and the Nigerian Embassy in Bangkok, which assisted in securing Emergency Travel Certificates that enabled the victims’ safe return to Nigeria.
Bello said the successful rescue highlights NAPTIP’s strengthened resolve to confront organised trafficking networks exploiting vulnerable Nigerians under the guise of overseas opportunities.
What you should know
NAPTIP has rescued and repatriated 23 Nigerian youths trafficked to Southeast Asia for cybercrime activities.
The victims were lured with promises of scholarships and jobs but were forced into scams under strict surveillance and abuse. The agency described the case as a new pattern of trafficking targeting skilled young Nigerians.
With international support, the victims have returned home, while NAPTIP intensifies efforts to dismantle the syndicate and bring those behind the operation to justice.
