The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) has exposed emerging tactics used by traffickers to recruit victims, including posing as helpful acquaintances in social settings and advertising fake employment opportunities online.
The agency warned that unsuspecting Nigerians, particularly women and desperate job seekers, were increasingly being targeted through carefully cultivated relationships and fraudulent job offers that eventually expose them to sexual exploitation, rape and other forms of abuse.
NAPTIP’s Head of Press and Public Relations, Vincent Adekoye, disclosed this during a joint security press briefing covering September and October 2026 at the Office of the National Security Adviser in Abuja.
Adekoye explained that traffickers were increasingly exploiting everyday social interactions, particularly in gyms, recreational centres and other public spaces, to establish relationships with prospective victims before manipulating them.
According to him, some perpetrators initially present themselves as service providers, offering assistance with shopping, domestic needs and other personal errands before gradually building trust and obtaining their victims’ telephone contacts.
He said the suspects subsequently maintain frequent communication, sometimes calling at unusual hours and positioning themselves as dependable persons who could provide assistance during emergencies.
“These seemingly harmless gestures are often part of a deliberate strategy to gain victims’ trust,” the agency warned.
The agency also identified fraudulent online recruitment as another growing channel through which Nigerians are lured into trafficking networks, citing cases of job seekers who travelled considerable distances after responding to seemingly genuine employment advertisements.
Adekoye recounted the case of a lawyer from Benue State who travelled to Abuja in search of employment at a law chamber but allegedly ended up in the hands of traffickers.
“We have recorded very disturbing cases involving people who travelled long distances in search of employment opportunities, only to fall into the hands of traffickers,” he said.
He disclosed that some victims suffered severe emotional and psychological trauma, with certain cases resulting in unwanted pregnancies.
Raising further concern over the growing incidence of sexual exploitation, Adekoye warned of increasing cases of sextortion, rape and revenge pornography across the country.
He urged Nigerians to exercise caution when establishing online relationships, accepting unsolicited assistance or responding to attractive employment and financial offers.
The NAPTIP spokesperson advised job seekers to independently verify prospective employers and their business addresses before travelling for interviews or accepting employment.
He also cautioned against quickly trusting strangers who use seemingly generous gestures to establish personal relationships, stressing that vigilance and early verification could help prevent exploitation.
The agency reaffirmed its commitment to combating human trafficking and sexual violence through security operations and preventive public awareness campaigns.
