The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) has rescued and repatriated 23 Nigerian youths from Thailand who were suspected victims of human trafficking and forced into cyber-enabled criminal activities.
The Director-General of NAPTIP, Binta Adamu Bello, disclosed this on Wednesday, February 11, 2026, warning of a growing trend in which traffickers recruit young Nigerians for online fraud operations in Southeast Asia.
In a statement issued by the agency’s Head of Press and Public Relations, Vincent Adekoye, Bello said the rescue operation was carried out in collaboration with Eden (Myanmar), with critical support from the British Government and the Nigerian Embassy in Bangkok.
According to NAPTIP, the victims were lured with promises of scholarships and lucrative employment before being trafficked to countries including Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, and Cambodia. Upon arrival, they were allegedly forced into cybercrime activities such as romance scams, cryptocurrency fraud, and fake investment schemes.
The agency stated that traffickers deliberately target intelligent youths with computer and IT skills, particularly those with clean health records and no history of alcohol or substance use.
“This is a new dimension of the human trafficking phenomenon that targets vibrant and intelligent Nigerians,” Bello said. “They promise them scholarships and gainful employment, but on arrival, the victims are trained in various scam methods and compelled to defraud individuals and organisations.”
Some of the rescued youths reportedly disclosed that they were trained in foreign languages, particularly Chinese, to serve as translators or customer care representatives in fraudulent operations targeting victims in the United States, United Kingdom, Ethiopia, and Canada.
The victims were allegedly housed in hostels under strict surveillance and forced to meet daily fraud targets, with punishments meted out to those who failed to comply.
Describing the development as disturbing, Bello said NAPTIP has intensified efforts and reactivated partnerships to dismantle the trafficking syndicates and apprehend their ringleaders.
She expressed appreciation to civil society organisations in the South Asia region, Eden (Myanmar), the British Government, and the Nigerian Embassy in Bangkok for their support in facilitating the victims’ safe return, including the issuance of Emergency Travel Certificates.
The agency reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening collaboration and enhancing strategies to detect, disrupt, and dismantle human trafficking networks targeting Nigerians.