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From Fred Ezeh, Abuja
National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), said it has uncovered “new” tricks being used lately by human trafficking cartel to lure victims for various forms of exploitation.
NAPTIP, in a statement, on Sunday, noted that the cartels are exploiting coordinated global brand trademarks with unrealistic job offer oil and gas to traffic unsuspecting youths and other classes of people to neighboring West African Countries for various forms of exploitation.
The Agency noted that the targeted demographic are male and female of between 15 and 35 years old, and they are typically trafficked through the waterways of Ode Jetty in Lagos en-route Benin Republic and other parts of the West African region, adding that some victims are also trafficked via land routes.
The statement which was signed by Adekoye Vincent, NAPTIP Communication Officer, noted that NAPTIP Director General, Prof. Fatima Waziri-Azi, was concerned with the development and cautioned Nigerians against falling into the trap of the traffickers.
She said the new discovery was part of the emerging trends in human trafficking for the year 2024, hence the decision to raise the alarm and inform Nigerians about the mode of operations.
She said: “As part of our comprehensive enlightenment strategies to equip Nigerians with timely and accurate information to reduce their vulnerability, we have received reports indicating that traffickers have adopted new tactics to lure unsuspecting victims to Ghana, Cote d’Ivoire, Liberia, and other West African nations under the guise of lucrative employment opportunities in gold mining and oil companies.
“Victims are enticed with promises of monthly income as high as $900.00, which, as always, are not true. Victims are often instructed to bring up to N850,000 for documentation and other logistical expenses. But upon arrival at their destination, traffickers confiscate the money, along with the victims’ phones and other personal belongings.”
The NAPTIP boss appealed to Nigerians to always exercise caution, ask questions, and seek a second opinion before accepting any tempting offers, locally and internationally, and not allow desperation to cloud their judgment.
She restated that NAPTIP has redoubled its efforts through enhanced partnership, collaboration, diligent prosecution, and extensive awareness campaigns, aimed at bolstering its operations, resulting in a significant increase in convictions of human traffickers.
