The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) has teamed up with the British High Commission in Abuja to highlight the experiences of Nigerians trafficked into cyber-enabled scam operations in Southeast Asia.
The survivor-focused event, titled “Confronting the Global Scam Centre Crisis: Perspectives of Nigerian Survivors,” featured testimonies from recently repatriated Nigerians who were lured abroad with promises of lucrative employment but forced into sophisticated online fraud under abusive and exploitative conditions.
The initiative follows a joint rescue operation coordinated by NAPTIP, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Nigerian Embassy in Bangkok, and the British NGO EDEN, which resulted in the safe return of 23 survivors earlier this month after interventions along the Thai–Myanmar border and welfare checks at Bangkok’s Immigration Detention Centre.
According to the 2026 United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights report “A Wicked Problem,” over 120,000 people are currently held in forced scam operations in Myanmar, with the total in Southeast Asia estimated at more than 300,000. The report also noted that 74% of known victims trafficked into scam centres between 2020 and 2025 were deceived with promises of high-paying jobs.
At the event, the UK Deputy High Commissioner to Abuja, Gill Lever, emphasized the UK’s commitment to supporting Nigeria in addressing the emerging threat. She said, “We are here today to listen to survivors who have shown remarkable bravery in sharing their experiences. The UK is working closely with NAPTIP, the Nigerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, EDEN, and IOM to ensure survivors receive trauma-informed care and safe repatriation.”
Representing NAPTIP’s Director-General, Mrs. Kehinde Akomolafe highlighted the bravery of survivors and reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to protecting Nigerians from emerging trafficking trends. One survivor recounted how he was deceived with promises of a better life abroad, underscoring the urgent need for awareness and preventive measures.
The collaboration signals a strengthened international effort to combat human trafficking into cyber-fraud operations and ensure comprehensive support for survivors.
