The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons has rescued and repatriated 23 Nigerian youths suspected to be victims of human trafficking to Thailand for cyber-enabled criminal activities.
The Director-General of NAPTIP, Binta Adamu Bello, disclosed this on Wednesday, February 11, 2026, warned of a growing trend in which traffickers recruit young Nigerians for online fraud operations in Southeast Asia.
Bello, who made this known in a statement issued by the agency’s Head of Press and Public Relations, Vincent Adekoye, said that the rescue 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 deceived with promises of scholarships and lucrative jobs before being trafficked to countries including Myanmar, Thailand, Laos and Cambodia.
They were allegedly forced into cybercrime activities such as romance scams, cryptocurrency fraud and fake investment schemes.
The statement further revealed that the traffickers deliberately target intelligent youths with computer and IT skills, as well as those with clean health records.I
“In continuation of its renewed onslaught against the activities of organized criminal elements targeting vulnerable Nigerians, the National Agency for the Prohibition of trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) has rescued and repatriated 23 Nigerian youths suspected to be victims of human trafficking from Thailand,” the statement read.
The operation was carried out with the support and collaboration of Eden (Myanmar), with critical assistance from the British Government.The victims who have arrived in Nigeria were deceived, recruited, and trafficked to some Southeast Asian Countries like Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, and Cambodia, for cyber – enabled crimes such as romance scam, cryptocurrency-related fraud, and investment scam in the destination Countries.
“The development came barely a few weeks after the Director General of NAPTIP, Binta Adamu Bello, OON, promised a hard time for human traffickers in the Country.
“She promised an improved collaboration and upscale strategy to detect, dislodge, and disorganise activities of human trafficking targeting any Nigerian.
“Speaking on the latest operation carried out by the Agency and the nature of the exploitation of the Victims, the Director General alerted on the new activities of the traffickers and called for the collaboration of all stakeholders.
