The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) has reported the rescue of more than 3,000 victims of sexual and gender-based violence in 2026, highlighting a concerning trend of human trafficking increasingly shifting to the digital realm. This information was disclosed by NAPTIP's Head of Press and Public Relations, Mr. Vincent Adekoye, during a Joint Security News Briefing held in Abuja on Tuesday.

Adekoye emphasized the agency's commitment to combating human trafficking, revealing that NAPTIP secured over 20 convictions this year as part of its intensified operations against trafficking and exploitation. He noted that traffickers are now leveraging social media, encrypted messaging platforms, and fraudulent online job portals to target vulnerable individuals, particularly Nigerian youths.

"Human trafficking is migrating to the digital space, and we must adapt our response to meet this emerging threat," Adekoye stated. He elaborated that many victims are misled with enticing job offers in Southeast Asian countries such as Laos, Cambodia, and Thailand. Upon arrival, these individuals often have their travel documents confiscated and are confined in guarded locations run by cybercrime syndicates.

Once under the control of these networks, victims are coerced into engaging in various online criminal activities, including fraud schemes, romance scams, and cryptocurrency-related crimes aimed at unsuspecting individuals in other nations. In response to this alarming trend, NAPTIP is enhancing its intelligence operations and fostering international cooperation to dismantle these transnational trafficking networks.

In recent operations conducted in July and August, NAPTIP rescued over 80 suspected trafficking victims and achieved nine convictions. These operations, particularly around the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja and the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, successfully disrupted trafficking routes used to transport victims abroad.

Once rescued, victims are placed under NAPTIP's protective care, where they receive counselling, medical evaluations, and rehabilitation support. The agency is also investigating the alleged trafficking and illegal adoption of 54 children from the Loko community in Nasarawa State. These children were reportedly taken from displaced families through a fraudulent initiative and trafficked to unauthorized orphanages and adoption brokers.

Additionally, NAPTIP recently sealed an illegal maternity facility in Port Harcourt and arrested three individuals linked to an international baby-selling network. To bolster public awareness and combat technology-facilitated exploitation, NAPTIP has inaugurated a specialized Sexual and Gender-Based Violence Media Corps.

Adekoye urged the public to verify overseas employment offers and to be cautious of unverified online recruiters. He called on Nigerians to report any suspicious recruitment schemes or unauthorized child-placement activities to NAPTIP.

In a related effort, the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has ramped up border surveillance and migration management to combat irregular migration and human trafficking. During interventions in July and August, NIS rescued 23 suspected victims and repatriated 99 foreigners. The agency is also enhancing its operational capabilities at airports and land borders to improve the detection of trafficking and document fraud.

As NAPTIP continues to adapt its strategies, the agency remains committed to ensuring that technology does not become a tool for traffickers to exploit and control vulnerable Nigerians.