The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) has secured the rescue and return of 23 Nigerian youths who were trafficked to Thailand and other South East Asian countries for cyber-related criminal activities.
The agency revealed that the victims were lured abroad by traffickers who specifically targeted young Nigerians with computer and IT expertise.
They were reportedly promised scholarships and well-paying jobs overseas.
In a statement released by NAPTIP’s Head of Press and Public Relations, Vincent Adekoye, the agency said the rescue mission was conducted in partnership with Eden (Myanmar), with support from the British government and the Nigerian Embassy in Bangkok, Thailand.
According to NAPTIP, the victims were taken to countries including Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, and Cambodia, where they were allegedly coerced into participating in online fraud operations such as romance scams, cryptocurrency fraud, and fake investment schemes.
Director-General of NAPTIP, Binta Bello, described the incident as an alarming evolution in human trafficking tactics.
“This represents a new and troubling dimension of human trafficking that targets bright and skilled Nigerian youths,” Bello stated.
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“Traffickers focus on young men and women with technical skills, particularly in IT, and often prefer those who do not smoke or drink. They entice them with promises of scholarships and lucrative employment opportunities.”
She explained that once in the host countries, the victims were reportedly trained in various forms of online scams.
Some were enrolled in language programmes, especially to learn Chinese, before being assigned roles as translators or customer service agents to defraud unsuspecting victims.
“The rescued individuals disclosed that they were forced to target people and institutions in countries such as the United States, the United Kingdom, Ethiopia, and Canada through romance scams, cryptocurrency fraud, and other online schemes,” Bello said.
The director general further revealed that the victims were housed in controlled facilities and provided with electronic devices to carry out the fraudulent activities under close surveillance.
“They were supervised by intimidating operatives who allegedly punished anyone unable or unwilling to meet daily targets,” she added.
Some of the victims claimed that those who resisted were subjected to harsh treatment, including confinement in a so-called ‘dark room.’
There were also allegations that certain trafficked persons, particularly younger individuals with no history of smoking, were subjected to organ harvesting.
Bello described the trafficking network as highly organised and dangerous, noting that NAPTIP has intensified efforts to dismantle the syndicate and bring perpetrators to justice.
She commended civil society organisations in South Asia, Eden (Myanmar), the British government, and the Nigerian Embassy in Bangkok for their support in facilitating the victims’ safe return, including assistance with emergency travel documentation.
