Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has urged citizens to be vigilant against online scams, warning that cyber fraud is increasingly being used by traffickers to lure unsuspecting victims into modern-day slavery.
Drivetvnews gathered that In a message to commemorate the 2026 World Day Against Trafficking in Persons, observed annually on July 30, the First Lady said human trafficking has evolved beyond traditional methods and now includes online deception, forced criminal activities and organised transnational crime.
Highlighting this year’s theme, “Trapped Behind the Scam,” Tinubu explained that many young Nigerians, including graduates, are being deceived with fake job offers, investment opportunities and promises of better lives abroad.
She noted that many victims end up trapped in exploitative environments where they are forced to engage in criminal activities after their travel documents are confiscated.
The First Lady called on Nigerians, communities and institutions to remain alert and promptly report suspicious activities to help protect vulnerable people from increasingly sophisticated trafficking networks.
“Let us remain vigilant, protect the vulnerable, and ensure that no one falls victim to exploitation,” she said, stressing that collective action is essential to building a society founded on freedom, dignity and hope.
The United Nations established the World Day Against Trafficking in Persons in 2013 to raise awareness of human trafficking and strengthen efforts to protect victims worldwide.
Nigeria remains a source, transit and destination country for human trafficking, according to available reports.
The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) disclosed that it has rescued 156 trafficking victims since January 2026, while over 300 Nigerians were repatriated from Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire in 2025.
NAPTIP Director-General, Binta Adamu Bello, also revealed that more than 300,000 people are trafficked annually into scam compounds across Southeast Asia, where victims are coerced into operating romance scams, cryptocurrency fraud and other online investment schemes targeting individuals in countries including the United States, the United Kingdom and Canada.
The agency further warned that one of the fastest-growing trafficking tactics involves fake employment opportunities in information technology, digital marketing and cryptocurrency trading, with victims later forced into cybercrime after arriving abroad.
