First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has urged Nigerians to remain vigilant against online scams used by human traffickers to exploit young people.
In a message issued on Thursday to commemorate the World Day Against Trafficking in Persons, observed annually on July 30, the First Lady described human trafficking as a modern form of slavery that has expanded beyond conventional practices to include online scams, forced criminality and transnational organised crime.
She said this year’s global theme, ‘Trapped Behind the Scam,’ highlights the growing use of fraudulent overseas job and investment offers to lure young Nigerians, including graduates, into exploitation and criminal activities.
The First Lady called on individuals, communities and institutions to be alert to the changing tactics employed by traffickers.
She said, “Let us remain vigilant, protect the vulnerable, and ensure that no one falls victim of exploitation.
“Through collective action, we can build a safer society where every person can live in freedom, dignity, and hope. We say ‘no’ to human trafficking today.”
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The World Day Against Trafficking in Persons was established by the United Nations General Assembly in 2013 and is observed every July 30 to raise awareness about human trafficking and promote the rights of victims.
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Nigeria remains one of the countries most affected by human trafficking, serving as a source, transit and destination for victims.
According to the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), about 156 trafficking victims have been rescued since January 2026, while more than 300 Nigerians were repatriated from Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire in 2025.
NAPTIP Director-General, Binta Adamu Bello, disclosed last week that more than 300,000 people are trafficked annually into scam compounds across Southeast Asia, where they are forced under threats of violence to operate romance scams, cryptocurrency fraud and fake investment schemes targeting victims in the United States, the United Kingdom and Canada.
The agency also identified the scam compound model as one of the fastest-growing forms of human trafficking, with victims lured abroad through fake employment opportunities in information technology, digital marketing and cryptocurrency trading before having their passports seized and being compelled to engage in online fraud.
