The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) has rescued and repatriated 23 Nigerian youths trafficked to Thailand for cyber-enabled criminal activities, raising concerns over a growing trend of trafficking to Southeast Asia.
The victims were returned to Nigeria through a coordinated operation involving civil society partners in the South Asia region, Eden (Myanmar), the British Government, and the Nigerian Embassy in Bangkok.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, NAPTIP disclosed that the victims were deceived with promises of scholarships and lucrative employment, but were later forced to engage in online scams, including romance fraud, cryptocurrency schemes, and investment scams in countries such as Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, and Cambodia.
Director-General of NAPTIP, Binta Adamu Bello, described the development as “a disturbing new dimension” in human trafficking.
“This is a new dimension of the human trafficking phenomenon that targets vibrant and intelligent Nigerians,” Bello said. “The traffickers specifically target young people with computer and IT skills, especially those with a clean bill of health, promising them scholarships and gainful employment.”
According to her, upon arrival in the destination countries, the victims were trained in various scamming techniques and, in some cases, enrolled in language schools to serve as translators and customer care agents to defraud individuals and organisations in the United States, United Kingdom, Ethiopia, and Canada.
“The victims disclosed that they were accommodated in hostels, provided with necessary gadgets, and forced to meet daily fraud targets under strict surveillance,” she said. “Those who resisted were allegedly subjected to severe punishment.”
Bello noted that the agency had intensified collaboration with both local and international stakeholders to dismantle the trafficking syndicates and apprehend those responsible.
“We have reactivated our various connections so that, with the support of partners, this deadly trafficking network will be dislodged and the ringleaders arrested,” she added.
The agency commended its international partners for their support in facilitating the rescue and repatriation of the victims, including the issuance of emergency travel documents.
