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 cybercrime activities.
NAPTIP Director-General, Binta Adamu Bello, disclosed the development on Wednesday, warning of an emerging trend where traffickers recruit Nigerian youths for online fraud schemes abroad.
In a statement issued by the agency’s Head of Press and Public Relations, Vincent Adekoye, the rescue operation was carried out in collaboration with Eden (Myanmar), with support from the British Government and the Nigerian Embassy in Bangkok.
According to NAPTIP, the victims were lured with promises of scholarships and lucrative job opportunities before being trafficked to countries such as Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, and Cambodia.
Upon arrival, they were allegedly forced into cyber-enabled crimes, including romance scams, cryptocurrency fraud, and fake investment schemes.
Bello described the development as a disturbing new dimension of human trafficking targeting intelligent Nigerian youths with computer and IT skills, particularly those with clean health records.
She explained that some victims received training in scamming techniques and language classes, especially Chinese, before being deployed as online customer service agents to defraud individuals and organizations in countries such as the United States, United Kingdom, Ethiopia, and Canada.
The DG revealed that victims were housed in hostels under strict surveillance by criminal handlers and compelled to meet daily fraud targets. Those who resisted or failed to comply reportedly faced severe punishment.
“Some victims described being tortured in dark rooms, while others alleged cases of organ harvesting, particularly involving younger victims with non-smoking histories, Bello said.
She assured that NAPTIP would intensify efforts to dismantle the trafficking syndicates and bring the perpetrators to justice.
The agency also commended civil society organizations, international partners, and the Nigerian Embassy in Bangkok for their roles in facilitating the rescue and repatriation process, including the issuance of emergency travel documents.
NAPTIP noted that the latest operation forms part of broader efforts to strengthen collaboration and disrupt emerging trafficking routes targeting Nigerians
