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Rescue 23 victims from Thailand
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From Fred Ezeh, Abuja
The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) has raised the alarm that young Nigerians with no smoking history are increasingly being targeted by human traffickers.
NAPTIP said the organs of non-smoking young Nigerians are often targeted for harvest by human traffickers who, most times, lure them to unknown locations and, recently, to South Asian countries with unrealistic promises.
Its Director General, Dr Binta Adamu, disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday to announce the rescue and repatriation of 23 Nigerian youths suspected to be victims of human trafficking from Thailand.
She explained that the operation was carried out with the support and collaboration of Eden (Myanmar), with critical assistance from the British Government, and that preliminary investigation revealed that the victims were deceived, recruited and trafficked to some Southeast Asian countries such as Myanmar, Thailand, Laos and Cambodia for cyber-enabled crimes, including romance scams, cryptocurrency-related fraud and investment scams in the destination countries.
She alerted Nigerians to the new activities of the traffickers and called for the collaboration of all stakeholders to tackle the issue and limit the activities and impact of human trafficking.
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She explained: “The new dimension of the human trafficking phenomenon targets vibrant and intelligent Nigerians. The trafficker goes after boys and girls who have one skill or the other, but preferably computer and IT skills, and those who do not drink alcohol or smoke. They promised them a scholarship and gainful employment.
“Sadly, on arrival at the destination country, the victims are trained on various kinds of scam. Some of them are enrolled in language schools, preferably Chinese, and, within the shortest time, graduate as translators and are offered the role of customer care to deceive their targets.
“For instance, the rescued victims explained that they were compelled to target individuals and organizations from the United States of America, the United Kingdom, Ethiopia and Canada, for romance scams, investment scams, cryptocurrency scams and other online fraud.
“They further disclosed that they were accommodated in a hostel with bunks and provided with all the necessary gadgets, and are forced to go after their targets. They are monitored by fierce-looking mafia guys who also torture any of them who refuse to meet their daily targets.
“The victims also explained that while a few of them that refused to do the bidding of the traffickers were tortured to death inside the horror chamber called ‘the dark room’, others had their organs harvested, especially the young ones with non-smoking history.
“This is a new dimension in trafficking to destination countries in the Southeast Asian region, and it is disturbing. We have reactivated our various connections so that, with the support of partners, this deadly trafficking syndicate will be dislodged and the ringleaders arrested.”
She appreciated the support and collaboration of members of the civil society organisation in the South Asia region, Eden (Myanmar), the British Government and also the Nigerian Embassy in Bangkok, Thailand, for its significant role in facilitating the repatriation process, including the issuance of Emergency Travel Certificates (ETCs) for some of the victims.
