The Director General of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), Binta Adamu Bello, OON, has announced the Agency’s plans to review and strengthen its counter-trafficking strategies and policies for the year 2026. This initiative aims to improve operational efficiency and intensify efforts against human traffickers throughout the country.
In a statement released by Vincent Adekoye, NAPTIP’s National Press Officer, Bello highlighted the Agency’s successful record in 2025, during which NAPTIP secured the conviction of 93 human traffickers.
The Agency also intercepted over 2,500 potential victims being deceived, recruited, and trafficked for various forms of exploitation both domestically and internationally. Many of these victims received rehabilitation services.
The Director General made these remarks during a review of the Agency’s activities at their headquarters in Abuja, focusing on strategic objectives for the upcoming year. Bello acknowledged that, following her directive for improved monitoring and vigilance across all commands, NAPTIP significantly increased its operations in 2025. This concerted effort led to a rise in interceptions and rescues, as well as strengthened partnerships, public awareness initiatives, and successful prosecutions.
Bello commented, “The year 2025 was a challenging one for human traffickers in the country. Our proactive measures outsmarted their tactics, resulting in an impressive number of convictions. Recording 93 convictions in a single year is a noteworthy achievement, especially considering the complexities involved in prosecuting and securing the conviction of a trafficker.
“In 2025, NAPTIP went after a number of the so called high profiled trafficker, while scores of them were smoked out of their hiding, arrested, prosecuted, and convicted, others are still under close watch. Among the high-profile traffickers were some popular Operators of orphanages and Care Homes across the Country whose alleged nefarious activities were busted, and over 120 suspected trafficked children were rescued.
“In the same vein, NAPTIP, in collaboration with International Partners and Stakeholders, rescued over 370 Nigerian victims of human trafficking from some Countries such as Ghana, Senegal, Côte d’Ivoire, and others.
“As unpleasant as the year 2025 was for the traffickers, I wish to point out that a real hard time awaits them in the year 2026. We have deliberately scaled up our operations to address the evolving challenges and trends. Specifically, we shall increase our collaboration and cooperation with other sister Law Enforcement Agencies, Development Partners, Civil Society Organizations, and other categories of Stakeholders.
“We shall also increase synergy with actors within the 3 levels of Government, as well as other non- State Actors, including the Association of Local Government of Nigeria (ALGON), to enhance grassroots surveillance and detection of human trafficking.
“We shall also seek improved relationships and support from the Legislative arm through the National and State Assemblies, the Executive through the State Governors and their spouses, and the Judiciary.
“While we sincerely appreciate the support of all in the year 2025, we assure that NAPTIP shall continue to go after the human traffickers and make 2026 unbearable for them to operate in Nigeria through awareness and enlightenment programmes across Nigeria, with special attention on the unreached locations and villages to reduce their vulnerability and build their resistance to the antics of the traffickers and prosecution.
“Just a few days into the year 2026, we have already secured the conviction of 3 human traffickers, and more will end up in jail unless they desist from their unlawful acts and criminality”, the NAPTIP Boss stated.
As NAPTIP embarks on this strategic review, the Agency remains committed to combatting human trafficking and ensuring justice for victims across the nation.
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