First Lady Tinubu Calls for Vigilance Against Trafficking

On Thursday, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, the First Lady of Nigeria, called for heightened vigilance against online scams that facilitate human trafficking, in a message commemorating the World Day Against Trafficking in Persons on July 30. She described human trafficking as a modern form of slavery that has adapted to exploit victims through online scams and forced criminality.

The global theme for this year, ‘Trapped Behind the Scam,’ underscores the increasing number of young Nigerians, including educated graduates, who fall victim to fraudulent overseas employment and investment schemes. Tinubu urged individuals and communities to protect the vulnerable and prevent exploitation.

The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons reported that approximately 156 victims were rescued since January 2026, with over 300 repatriated from Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire in 2025. The agency's Director-General, Binta Adamu Bello, revealed that over 300,000 individuals are trafficked annually into scam compounds in Southeast Asia, where they are coerced into committing online fraud.