The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) has rescued over 3,000 victims of human trafficking and sexual violence this year. They reported this during a news briefing in Abuja, highlighting that trafficking is increasingly moving online. Criminals are using social media and fake job websites to lure young Nigerians with false job offers, especially in countries like Laos, Cambodia, and Thailand. Once the victims arrive, traffickers often take their travel documents and force them into illegal activities like online scams. NAPTIP is working to gather intelligence and collaborate internationally to tackle these new digital trafficking methods. Recently, they also rescued victims at airports and disrupted trafficking operations. In addition, NAPTIP is investigating the illegal adoption of 54 children from a community in Nasarawa State, who were taken under the guise of a fake school initiative. They have also shut down an illegal maternity facility linked to a baby-selling network. To combat this, NAPTIP has launched a media initiative to raise awareness and is urging the public to verify job offers and report suspicious activities. The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) is also enhancing border security to prevent trafficking and irregular migration, rescuing additional victims in recent operations.
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