The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) has warned Nigerians to be cautious of fake job offers, especially those promising lucrative opportunities abroad, describing them as common tactics used by human traffickers.
Director-General of NAPTIP, Binta Adamu Bello, cautioned that offers that appear “too good to be true” often serve as traps to lure unsuspecting victims into forced labour, prostitution, sextortion, cybercrime, and even organ harvesting.
Fake Overseas Job Offers Linked to Human Trafficking
Represented by Ogun State Commander Bosede Jimoh, Bello delivered the warning during a school sensitisation programme at Ajuwon High School in Ifo Local Government Area of Ogun State.
She explained that traffickers frequently deceive victims with promises of well-paying jobs outside Nigeria, only to subject them to exploitation upon arrival.
“We must ask questions and verify any job offer before making decisions. Many of these offers are hoaxes designed by criminally minded individuals,” she warned.
Case Study: Nigerian Boys Trafficked to Ghana
Bello recounted a case where over 80 Nigerian boys were trafficked to Ghana under the false promise of working in gold mines. Instead, they were forced into cybercrime operations and confined in houses with laptops until authorities secured their repatriation.
The incident highlights that both boys and girls are vulnerable to human trafficking schemes.
Ogun School Sensitisation Programme Against Human Trafficking
The awareness campaign is part of a broader anti-human trafficking initiative implemented by NAPTIP in collaboration with the International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD) and funded by the Government of the Netherlands.
During the event:
30 students were inaugurated into the Anti-Trafficking and Violence Against Persons Vanguard Club.
Members received educational materials, including T-shirts and school bags.
Students were encouraged to lead advocacy efforts against human trafficking in their schools and communities.
STEAP Project Targets 250 Schools Nationwide
Project Officer of the School Anti-Trafficking Education and Empowerment Project (STEAP), Samuel Okoroji, disclosed that the initiative is active in five states — Ogun, Benue, Delta, Edo, and Enugu.
The project aims to:
Reach 50 schools per state
Create anti-trafficking awareness
Build capacity among students and stakeholders
Strengthen victim protection systems
Promote collaboration among relevant agencies
According to Okoroji, Anti-Trafficking and Violence Against Persons (A-TIPVAP) clubs have already been established in multiple schools across Ogun State, with more scheduled for inauguration in the coming weeks.
Human Trafficking in Nigeria: Forms and Consequences
Bello outlined several forms of human trafficking affecting Nigerian youths, including:
Forced labour
Forced prostitution
Sextortion
Cybercrime exploitation
Organ harvesting
She noted that many victims suffer devastating consequences, including death, unwanted pregnancies, and incurable diseases such as HIV/AIDS.
Ogun State Government Backs Anti-Trafficking Efforts
The Coordinator of the Ogun State Taskforce on Human Trafficking, Kolawole Shoremi, praised the collaboration between the state government, NAPTIP, and ICMPD.
He described the school sensitisation programme as a strategic step toward equipping young Nigerians with the knowledge needed to identify and report suspicious activities.
“The human trafficking challenge is enormous, but with sustained awareness and enforcement, it is not insurmountable,” Shoremi stated.
