The director-general of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), Binta Adamu Bello, has revealed some of the tactics deployed by human traffickers in luring their victims.

The NAPTIP boss said traffickers lure victims through fake job opportunities and scholarships in some destination countries, and the recruitment of victims as marketing agents for some branded products to exploit them.

She added that some traffickers also recruit their victims through online loan schemes, baby factories, organ harvesting, and the recruitment of unsuspecting youths for online scams (Yahoo-Yahoo) within Nigeria, Ghana and some West African countries.

Bello, while lamenting that the trends were worrisome, called for joint efforts by all stakeholders to kick traffickers out of Nigeria.

She disclosed this in Abuja at a press conference to commence the 2025 World Day Against Human Trafficking with the theme: “Human trafficking is organised crime – end the exploitation”.

Bello noted that organised criminal networks use migration flows, global supply chains, legal and economic loopholes, and digital platforms to facilitate cross-border trafficking at a massive scale.

On some of the trends by traffickers, she said: “The fight against human trafficking has continued to take new dimensions with emerging trends daily. This is coupled with a new destination and further exploitation of victims. Some of the disturbing trends that are on the increase are fake job opportunities and scholarships in some destination countries, recruitment of victims as marketing agents for some branded products to exploit them and recruitment of unsuspecting youths for Online scams (Yahoo-Yahoo) within Nigeria, Ghana and some West African countries.

“Online trafficking/sextortion, revenge porn in Nigeria and Ghana baby factory, organ harvesting and online loan scheme. The online loan scheme is a situation where the suspect uses social media handles to lure unsuspecting victims into accepting, but at the end of the day, compels them into prostitution in return for the loan. This is common in Nigeria, Ghana”.

She also revealed that the capacity of the Cybercrime Squad of the Agency has been strengthened to respond and address the growing trends of online recruitment and exploitation.

“Our resolve to tackle human trafficking in Nigeria is firm and unequivocal, and we shall continue to scale our strategies to outsmart the traffickers. It is our resolve to continue doubling our efforts to outsmart the tactics of the traffickers. In the coming months, it will be very challenging for human traffickers in the country.

“We shall increase our coordination mechanism to empower all state and non–state actors to detect and report issues of human trafficking anywhere in the country”, Bello said.

On the importance of curbing human trafficking, Bello explained that human trafficking threatens national development and weakens the foundation and pillars of any nation, with women and youth as the main targets.

“We must set aside any rivalry and join hands together and ensure the protection of Nigerians. Together, let us kick human traffickers out of Nigeria”.

The Country Representative of UNODC, Mr. Cheikh Toure who reaffirmed UNODC’s commitment to Nigeria in tackling human trafficking, said collective efforts were critical to end trafficking.

He said: “I reaffirm UNODC’s unwavering solidarity with the Nigerian people in confronting the scourge of human trafficking. Trafficking is not an incidental crime, but a calculated, transnational enterprise profiting from the vulnerability of our women, children, and men.

“As custodian of the UN Convention Against Transnational Organised Crime (UNTOC), UNODC stands shoulder-to-shoulder with the government of Nigeria. We must dismantle criminal networks through coordinated, cross-border action, strengthening justice, protecting victims, and holding perpetrators accountable.

“Policies alone cannot win this fight. Trafficking festers where vulnerability is highest in underserved communities, border regions, and among marginalised youth. We must redirect energy and resources to the grassroots: empowering local leaders, traditional institutions, and community networks. The frontline of this battle is where poverty and desperation are exploited.

“Human trafficking violates every principle of human dignity, destabilises societies, and undermines the rule of law. UNODC will deepen its partnership with Nigeria working with government, civil society, and survivors to shatter criminal empires, uplift victims, and build a future where no Nigerian is bought or sold.” (The Nation)