Human Trafficking: NAPTIP Warns Nigerians against Job Offers in W’African Countries

The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) at the weekend said it uncovered a new ploy by some suspected human traffickers who are offering unrealistic oil and gas jobs to traffic unsuspecting youths and other classes of people to neighbouring West African countries for exploitation.

The Director General of the agency, Prof. Fatima Waziri-Azi, revealed the trend at the agency’s headquarters in Abuja while discussing emerging trends in human trafficking for the year 2024.

She noted that in recent times, NAPTIP had redoubled its efforts through enhanced partnership, collaboration, diligent prosecution, and extensive awareness campaigns aimed at bolstering its operations, resulting in a significant increase in convictions of human traffickers.

“As part of our comprehensive enlightenment strategies to equip Nigerians with timely and accurate information to reduce their vulnerability, we have received reports indicating that traffickers have adopted new tactics to lure unsuspecting victims, predominantly to Ghana, Cote d’Ivoire, Liberia, and other West African nations.

“Under the guise of lucrative employment opportunities in gold mining and oil companies, victims are enticed with promises of monthly incomes as high as $900.00, which, as always, are blatant lies.

"Victims are often instructed to bring up to N850,000 for documentation and other logistical expenses. Upon arrival at their destination, traffickers confiscate this money, along with the victims' phones and other personal belongings.

"The targeted demographic includes male and female victims aged between 15 and 35 years old. They are typically trafficked through the waterways of Ode Jetty in Lagos en-route to Benin Republic and other parts of the West African region. Some victims are also trafficked via land routes," she said.

Waziri-Azi urged Nigerians to exercise caution, ask questions, and seek a second opinion before accepting any tempting offers and to not allow desperation to cloud their judgment.

She assured that NAPTIP remains committed to combating human trafficking and protecting the rights and dignity of all Nigerians, urging Nigerians to report suspected cases of human trafficking or seek further information on 07030000203 or 627.