The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons NAPTIP has successfully rescued and repatriated 23 Nigerian youths trafficked to Thailand and other Southeast Asian countries for forced cybercrime, exposing a new and dangerous trend in human trafficking.
The victims were reportedly lured with promises of scholarships and lucrative jobs but were instead forced to engage in romance scams, cryptocurrency fraud, and fake investment schemes targeting individuals and organisations in the United States, United Kingdom, Ethiopia, and Canada.
NAPTIP Director-General Binta Bello said traffickers are now deliberately targeting vibrant and intelligent Nigerians, especially those with computer and IT ss and disciplined lifestyles. Victims revealed that those who refused to cooperate were tortured to death in a horror chamber called the dark room while others had their organs harvested.
The rescue operation was conducted in collaboration with Eden Myanmar, the British Government, and the Nigerian Embassy in Bangkok which facilitated Emergency Travel Certificates for some victims. Bello warned young Nigerians to exercise extreme caution when offered overseas scholarships or employment, as traffickers are increasingly sophisticated in disguising criminal operations as legitimate opportunities.
The agency reaffirmed its commitment to dismantling transnational trafficking networks and called for stronger awareness and vigilance to protect vulnerable youths.
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