NAPTIP (National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons) and the UK government have joined forces to shed light on the plight of Nigerian trafficking survivors forced into cyber-scam operations in Southeast Asia. At a survivor-centred forum in Abuja, recently repatriated Nigerians shared their harrowing experiences of being lured abroad with promises of lucrative jobs, only to be trafficked to countries like Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia, and Thailand, where they were coerced into sophisticated online fraud schemes under abusive conditions.
According to the UN’s 2026 report “A Wicked Problem”, at least 120,000 people are trapped in forced scam operations in Myanmar alone, with over 300,000 victims across Southeast Asia. The report also reveals that 74% of known victims trafficked into scam centres worldwide between 2020 and 2025 were taken to Southeast Asia.
Survivors recounted being promised better lives, but instead faced constant fear, surveillance, and torture. “I was promised opportunity, a good job, and a chance for a better life. Instead, I was trapped and forced to do things that went against everything I believe in,” one survivor said.
The event aimed to raise awareness about the tactics used by trafficking networks targeting young Nigerians with fake job offers. NAPTIP and the UK government are calling for intensified public awareness campaigns, stricter scrutiny of overseas recruitment channels, and enhanced intelligence-sharing among Commonwealth partners.
Stay informed about the latest developments affecting Nigerians in the diaspora!
Follow us for more updates:
facebook.com/TheNidm
www.thenidm.com
#EndHumanTrafficking
