NAPTIP Rescues 156 Trafficking Victims in 2026

The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) announced on Wednesday that it has rescued 156 victims of human trafficking since January 2026 and repatriated over 300 others from Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire in 2025. Director-General Binta Bello made this statement during a pre-World Day Against Trafficking in Persons press conference in Abuja.

She highlighted a concerning trend where criminal networks have shifted their exploitation tactics from traditional brothels and farms to the digital realm, luring educated Nigerian graduates into scam operations across Southeast Asia. Bello noted that many young people are promised lucrative job opportunities in fields like information technology and digital marketing, only to find themselves trapped in exploitative conditions upon arrival.

She stated that over 300,000 individuals are trafficked into scam operations in Southeast Asia annually, generating around $64 billion. The conditions for victims are severe, with reports of torture and organ harvesting.

The theme for this year's commemoration is ‘Trapped Behind the Scam.’.