First Lady Senator Oluremi Tinubu has called on Nigerians to remain vigilant against online scams increasingly being used by human traffickers to lure young people into exploitation and forced criminal activities.
In a statement issued on Thursday to commemorate the 2026 World Day Against Trafficking in Persons, Tinubu described human trafficking as a modern form of slavery that has evolved beyond traditional methods, with traffickers now exploiting digital platforms through fraudulent job and investment offers.
She said this year’s global theme, “Trapped Behind the Scam,” underscores the growing threat posed by online recruitment schemes targeting young Nigerians, including graduates, who are deceived with promises of lucrative employment abroad but end up trapped in exploitative conditions.
The First Lady urged individuals, communities and institutions to stay alert and report suspicious activities, stressing that collective efforts are essential to combat the crime.
“Let us remain vigilant, protect the vulnerable, and ensure that no one falls victim to exploitation. Through collective action, we can build a safer society where every person can live in freedom, dignity and hope. We say no to human trafficking today,” she said.
Observed annually on July 30, the World Day Against Trafficking in Persons was established by the United Nations General Assembly in 2013 to raise awareness about human trafficking and promote the rights of victims.
Nigeria remains one of the countries most affected by human trafficking, serving as a source, transit and destination nation for victims.
According to the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), about 156 victims have been rescued since January 2026, while more than 300 Nigerians were repatriated from Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire in 2025.
NAPTIP Director-General Binta Adamu Bello recently disclosed that over 300,000 people are trafficked annually into scam compounds across Southeast Asia, where they are forced under threats of violence to perpetrate romance scams, cryptocurrency fraud and fake investment schemes targeting victims in the United States, the United Kingdom and Canada.
She added that traffickers increasingly lure educated young Nigerians with promises of jobs in information technology, digital marketing and cryptocurrency trading before confiscating their passports and forcing them into cyber fraud upon arrival abroad.
The agency identified the scam-compound model as one of the fastest-growing forms of human trafficking in recent years.
