The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) has rescued and brought back 23 Nigerian youths believed to be victims of human trafficking from Thailand.
The Director-General of the agency, Binta Adamu Bello, disclosed this on Wednesday while warning Nigerians about a growing trend of trafficking to parts of South Asia for cyber-related criminal activities.
In a statement released by NAPTIP’s Head of Press and Public Relations, Vincent Adekoye, Bello explained that the rescue mission was carried out through collaboration with Eden (Myanmar) and with strong support from the British Government.
According to NAPTIP, the victims were lured and trafficked to countries such as Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, and Cambodia, where they were forced into cyber-enabled crimes including romance scams, cryptocurrency fraud, and fake investment schemes.
Bello described the development as a troubling shift in human trafficking tactics, noting that traffickers now target young Nigerians who are skilled and intelligent, especially those with computer and IT knowledge.
She said the traffickers often promise their victims scholarships and job opportunities abroad, only to trap them in criminal networks upon arrival.
The NAPTIP boss revealed that some of the victims were even enrolled in language schools—particularly to learn Chinese—and were later assigned roles such as customer service agents to help deceive unsuspecting targets online.
Bello said the rescued youths confessed they were forced to scam individuals and organisations in countries including the United States, the United Kingdom, Ethiopia, and Canada.
She added that the victims were housed in hostels, provided with gadgets, and placed under constant surveillance by armed men, who allegedly tortured anyone that failed to meet daily scam targets.
More disturbing, Bello disclosed that some victims who resisted were subjected to extreme abuse.
She claimed that some were tortured in a so-called “dark room,” while others, especially younger victims with no history of smoking, reportedly had their organs harvested.
Describing the situation as alarming, Bello vowed that NAPTIP would intensify efforts to dismantle the trafficking syndicates behind the operation and ensure those responsible are arrested.
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She also praised the organisations and agencies that supported the rescue, including civil society partners in the region, Eden (Myanmar), the British Government, and the Nigerian Embassy in Bangkok.
According to her, the Nigerian Embassy played a key role in the repatriation process, particularly by issuing emergency travel documents for some of the victims.
The rescue comes just weeks after Bello reaffirmed NAPTIP’s commitment to strengthening strategies and partnerships to combat trafficking and protect Nigerians from emerging international trafficking networks.
