Nigeria Overhauls Anti‑Trafficking Strategy as Criminal Networks Move Online

Attorney‑General and Minister of Justice Lateef Fagbemi warned that human traffickers in Nigeria are increasingly using social‑media sites, encrypted messaging apps and fraudulent online recruitment portals, shifting away from traditional methods. The change has prompted the federal government to revamp anti‑trafficking laws and strengthen digital forensic capabilities.

The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) reported 839 convictions since its creation, including 47 between January and July 2026, rescued 156 victims in the same period and repatriated over 300 Nigerians trafficked from Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire in 2025. The agency’s director‑general Binta Bello described the internet as a potent recruitment tool for organised crime.

Officials called for stricter enforcement of the 2015 Trafficking in Persons (Prohibition) Enforcement and Administration Act, the Cybercrimes Act and the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, as well as greater cooperation with technology firms, financial institutions and regional partners. The 2026 World Day Against Trafficking theme, “Trapped Behind the Scam,” underscores the urgency of coordinated action against digital‑enabled trafficking.