By Muhammad Mamman
— Nigerian authorities have rescued 23 citizens who were trafficked to Southeast Asia and forced to take part in cybercrime operations, the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) said on Wednesday.
NAPTIP disclosed that the victims were lured abroad with promises of lucrative jobs, only to be held under coercive conditions and compelled to engage in online fraud activities across several countries in the region.
According to the agency, the rescue followed weeks of intelligence gathering and collaboration with international law enforcement partners. The victims, mostly young Nigerians, have since been repatriated and placed in protective custody, where they are receiving medical care, psychological support and rehabilitation services.
NAPTIP Director-General Binta Adamu Bello said the operation exposed an expanding network of traffickers exploiting economic hardship to recruit unsuspecting youths.
“These criminal syndicates operate across borders, using deception and intimidation to trap vulnerable Nigerians in organised cybercrime rings,” Bello said. “We are intensifying efforts to dismantle these networks and bring the perpetrators to justice.”
She warned Nigerians to be cautious of unsolicited overseas job offers, particularly those requiring little documentation or promising unusually high pay.
The agency said investigations are ongoing to identify local recruiters and international collaborators linked to the trafficking ring, adding that several suspects are already under surveillance.
Human trafficking remains a persistent challenge for Nigeria, with Southeast Asia emerging as a new hotspot for forced cybercrime labour. Authorities say the latest rescue highlights the growing sophistication of trafficking syndicates and the urgent need for stronger public awareness and cross-border cooperation.
NAPTIP reaffirmed its commitment to protecting vulnerable citizens and urged members of the public to report suspected trafficking cases through its emergency channels.
