NAPTIP and UK Highlight Nigerian Trafficking Survivors

The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) partnered with the UK Government to spotlight Nigerian trafficking survivors during an event held in Abuja on a Sunday. This collaboration aimed to amplify the voices of survivors who have been victims of cyber-enabled scams, particularly in Southeast Asia.

The event, titled "Confronting the Global Scam Crisis: Perspectives from Nigerian Survivors," featured testimonies from recently repatriated Nigerians who were lured abroad with promises of lucrative jobs but ended up coerced into sophisticated cyber fraud schemes. The initiative followed a joint rescue operation coordinated by NAPTIP and the Nigerian Embassy in Bangkok, which led to the safe return of 23 Nigerian survivors earlier in the month.

Reports indicate that at least 120,000 people are currently held in forced scam operations in Myanmar alone, with estimates exceeding 300,000 across Southeast Asia. Gill Lever, the UK Deputy High Commissioner in Abuja, reaffirmed the UK's commitment to supporting Nigeria in addressing this evolving threat.

Kehinde Akomolaf, the Director General of NAPTIP, emphasized the agency's commitment to protecting victims and preventing others from falling into similar traps.