The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) has rescued and repatriated 23 Nigerian youths trafficked to Thailand and other Southeast Asian countries for forced involvement in cybercrime activities.
The agency described the development as a disturbing new trend in human trafficking, where young Nigerians are lured abroad with promises of scholarships and lucrative jobs, only to be forced into transnational online fraud schemes.
According to NAPTIP, the victims were trafficked to Myanmar, Thailand, Laos and Cambodia, where they were compelled to participate in romance scams, cryptocurrency fraud and fake investment schemes targeting individuals and organisations in the United States, United Kingdom, Ethiopia and Canada.
Deception, Coercion and Abuse
During debriefings, the rescued youths alleged that they were housed in crowded hostels under strict surveillance and monitored daily by suspected criminal syndicates. They claimed those who failed to meet assigned fraud targets faced severe punishment.
Some of the victims further alleged that extreme violence was used to enforce compliance, including confinement in a so-called “dark room.” NAPTIP said it is investigating these claims as part of its ongoing efforts to dismantle trafficking networks.
The agency revealed that traffickers specifically targeted young Nigerians with computer and IT skills, particularly those perceived as disciplined and focused, promising them scholarships and well-paying jobs abroad.
Upon arrival in the destination countries, victims were reportedly trained in online scamming techniques. Some were enrolled in language schools to learn Chinese and later deployed as translators or customer service agents to facilitate fraudulent operations.
International Collaboration
NAPTIP’s Head of Press and Public Relations, Vincent Adekoya, said the rescue operation was carried out in collaboration with Eden (Myanmar), with support from the British Government and the Nigerian Embassy in Bangkok, which assisted in issuing Emergency Travel Certificates to facilitate the victims’ return.
The development comes weeks after NAPTIP Director-General, Binta Bello, pledged intensified action against human trafficking syndicates.
Describing the latest case as alarming, Bello said traffickers have become increasingly sophisticated.
“This is a new dimension of the human trafficking phenomenon that targets vibrant and intelligent Nigerians.
The traffickers go after boys and girls who have one skill or the other, preferably computer and IT skills. They promise them scholarships and gainful employment,” she said.
Warning to Job Seekers
Bello urged Nigerians, particularly young job seekers, to exercise extreme caution when presented with overseas scholarship or employment offers.
She warned that many such opportunities are fronts for organised criminal operations that exploit victims for forced cybercrime and other illegal activities.
NAPTIP reiterated its commitment to strengthening collaboration with international partners to detect, disrupt and dismantle trafficking networks targeting Nigerians abroad.
