First Lady Warns Against Online Job Scams Fueling Human Trafficking

Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has called for heightened public vigilance to identify and report deceptive online recruitment schemes targeting young Nigerians.

In a message to commemorate the World Day Against Trafficking in Persons on July 30, Senator Tinubu highlighted the changing nature of human trafficking, describing it as a modern form of slavery that increasingly relies on digital platforms to exploit victims.

Addressing this year’s global theme, “Trapped Behind the Scam,” the First Lady noted that fraudulent job and investment offers are luring educated graduates into forced labor and transnational cybercrime operations overseas. She urged citizens, communities, and public institutions to stay alert to these tactics and work collectively to prevent exploitation.

Human trafficking remains a critical challenge in Nigeria, which functions as an origin, transit, and destination point for victims. According to data from the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), approximately 156 victims have been rescued since the start of 2026, following the repatriation of more than 300 individuals from Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire in 2025.

NAPTIP Director-General Binta Adamu Bello recently warned of a growing global trend involving scam compounds in Southeast Asia. Lured by fake job listings in technology and digital marketing, victims often face passport confiscation and physical threats upon arrival, forcing them to execute online investment and romance scams targeting international victims.