Nigeria’s First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, has warned Nigerians to be vigilant against online scams increasingly being used by human traffickers to lure victims into forced labour and organised criminal networks.
In a message to commemorate the 2026 World Day Against Trafficking in Persons, observed annually on July 30, the First Lady said human trafficking has evolved beyond conventional methods to include online deception, forced criminal activities and transnational organised crime.
Speaking on this year’s theme, “Trapped Behind the Scam,” Oluremi Tinubu noted that many young Nigerians, including university graduates, are being deceived with fake overseas job placements, investment opportunities and other fraudulent offers.
She explained that victims who accept such offers often end up in exploitative conditions, where they are compelled to participate in cybercrime and other illicit activities under threats and coercion.
“Let us remain vigilant, protect the vulnerable, and ensure that no one falls victim to exploitation,” she said, urging citizens, communities and institutions to work together to expose traffickers and safeguard vulnerable persons.
The First Lady stressed that collective action remains essential to building a society where every individual can live in freedom, dignity and hope.
The World Day Against Trafficking in Persons was established by the United Nations General Assembly in 2013 to raise awareness about the global menace of human trafficking and to strengthen efforts to protect victims.
Nigeria remains a source, transit and destination country for human trafficking, with authorities warning that traffickers are increasingly exploiting digital platforms to recruit unsuspecting victims.
According to the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), 156 trafficking victims have been rescued since January 2026. The agency also disclosed that more than 300 Nigerians were repatriated from Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire in 2025 after being trafficked.
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NAPTIP Director-General, Binta Adamu Bello, recently revealed that more than 300,000 people are trafficked annually into scam compounds across Southeast Asia.
She said victims are forced to run romance scams, cryptocurrency fraud schemes and fake investment operations targeting individuals in countries including the United States, the United Kingdom and Canada.
The agency further warned that fake job advertisements in information technology, digital marketing and cryptocurrency trading have become one of the fastest-growing recruitment tactics used by traffickers.
Upon arrival in foreign countries, victims are reportedly stripped of their travel documents and coerced into carrying out online fraudulent activities under constant intimidation and abuse.
