The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) has rescued and repatriated 23 Nigerian youths suspected to be victims of human trafficking from Thailand.
Director-General of NAPTIP, Binta Adamu Bello, disclosed the development on Wednesday, warning of a disturbing new trend in which traffickers lure Nigerians to Southeast Asia for cyber-enabled crimes.
According to a statement by the agency’s spokesperson, Vincent Adekoye, the operation was carried out with support from Eden (Myanmar), the British Government, and the Nigerian Embassy in Bangkok.
It was gathered, that the victims were deceived with promises of scholarships and jobs, then trafficked to countries including Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, and Cambodia. Once there, they were trained to carry out online scams such as romance fraud, cryptocurrency schemes, and fake investment offers.
Bello explained that traffickers specifically target young Nigerians with IT skills and clean lifestyles. “They promised them a scholarship and gainful employment. Upon arrival, they were trained in scamming techniques, enrolled in language schools, and used as customer care agents to deceive targets,” she said.
Victims revealed they were forced to target individuals and organisations in the US, UK, Ethiopia, and Canada. They were housed in hostels, monitored by mafia-like enforcers, and tortured if they failed to meet daily fraud quotas. Some who resisted were reportedly killed or had their organs harvested.
Bello described the situation as alarming and vowed to dismantle the syndicate. “This is a new dimension in trafficking to Southeast Asia, and it is disturbing. With partner support, this deadly syndicate will be dislodged and the ringleaders arrested,” she stated.
She commended Eden (Myanmar), the British Government, and the Nigerian Embassy in Thailand for facilitating the rescue and repatriation process, including issuing emergency travel certificates for the victims.
The development comes weeks after Bello pledged stronger collaboration and strategies to disrupt trafficking networks targeting Nigerians.
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