The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) has uncovered an emerging human trafficking route funneling Nigerian youths to Southeast Asia for forced involvement in cybercrime, rescuing and repatriating 23 victims from Thailand.
The victims, mostly young Nigerians with technology skills, were allegedly lured with promises of scholarships and high-paying jobs abroad before being trafficked to countries including Myanmar, Thailand, Laos and Cambodia. Instead of legitimate employment, they were reportedly compelled to engage in organised online fraud schemes targeting victims across several continents.
Director General of NAPTIP, Binta Adamu Bello, described the development as a disturbing shift in trafficking patterns, warning that criminal networks are increasingly targeting educated and skilled youths.
“This is a troubling evolution in the trafficking landscape,” Bello said. “Perpetrators now recruit intelligent young people with IT skills under the guise of scholarships and professional opportunities.”
According to the agency, upon arrival in their destination countries, the victims were trained in cyber-enabled crimes such as romance scams, cryptocurrency fraud and fake investment schemes. Some were reportedly enrolled in language programmes and later deployed as translators or customer service agents to engage foreign targets.
The rescued youths disclosed that they were housed in controlled facilities, assigned daily fraud targets and subjected to threats and intimidation if they failed to comply.
NAPTIP said the rescue operation was conducted in collaboration with a civil society organisation in Myanmar, with support from the British Government and the Nigerian Embassy in Bangkok, which facilitated emergency travel documentation for the victims.
Bello reiterated the agency’s commitment to dismantling the trafficking syndicates behind the scheme and prosecuting those responsible.
“We are strengthening international partnerships and intelligence-sharing mechanisms to disrupt and prosecute these networks,” she said.
The 23 rescued Nigerians have since returned home and are undergoing profiling, counselling and rehabilitation as investigations continue.
NAPTIP also cautioned parents and young professionals to be wary of overseas job or scholarship offers that lack verifiable documentation.
The development highlights growing concerns about the convergence of human trafficking and transnational cybercrime, as criminal networks increasingly exploit digital skills to expand illicit operations across borders.
By Michael Olugbode
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