Oluremi Tinubu warns Nigerians of online scams fueling human trafficking

First Lady Oluremi Tinubu warned Nigerians on July 30, 2026, World Day Against Trafficking in Persons, that online scams are increasingly used to traffic people abroad. She said fake job offers in information technology, digital marketing and cryptocurrency trading lure graduates and other young Nigerians overseas. Once abroad, victims have their passports seized and are forced to operate romance scams, crypto‑fraud schemes and other online fraud targeting victims in the US, UK and Canada.

NAPTIP reported rescuing 156 victims since January 2026 and repatriating over 300 Nigerians from Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire in 2025. Its director‑general, Binta Adamu Bello, said more than 300,000 Nigerians are trafficked each year into scam compounds across Southeast Asia.

The crime exploits hopes for better income, leaving victims trapped in criminal enterprises and facing legal risk abroad. Families lose contact and remittances stop, worsening household poverty.

To stay safe, verify any overseas job offer through official channels, never pay upfront fees, protect personal data, and report suspicious offers to NAPTIP or police. Collective vigilance can help stop traffickers from using online deception to exploit Nigerians.

SOURCE: https://dailypost.ng/2026/07/31/online-scams-driving-human-trafficking-remi-tinubu/