The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) has sounded the alarm on a disturbing trend: traffickers are increasingly targeting Nigerian youths with IT skills. According to NAPTIP’s Director-General, Binta Adamu Bello, these traffickers promise scholarships and gainful employment, only to force victims into cyber-enabled crimes like romance scams, cryptocurrency fraud, and investment scams in Southeast Asian countries.
*Key Points:*
– *Targeted Skills*: Traffickers focus on youths with computer and IT skills, particularly those with clean bills of health and disciplined lifestyles.
– *Methods of Exploitation*: Victims are trained in scamming techniques, enrolled in language schools, and forced to deceive targets.
– *Countries Involved*: Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, and Cambodia are common destinations for trafficked youths.
– *Consequences*: Those who resist are tortured, killed, or subjected to organ harvesting.
– *Rescue Efforts*: NAPTIP has rescued 23 Nigerian youths from Thailand, with support from international partners.
The agency urges Nigerians, especially young job seekers, to exercise caution when dealing with overseas scholarship and employment offers.