Abuja: The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) has warned Nigerians, particularly young people, against falling prey to human traffickers. UNODC stated that human traffickers increasingly exploit social media messaging applications and fake recruitment offers to lure victims with false promises of jobs, education, love, and a better life.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the warning was issued by the UNODC Country Office in Nigeria via its website to commemorate the 2026 World Day Against Trafficking in Persons with the theme, ‘Trapped Behind the Scam’. UNODC said thousands of people, including young Nigerians, were trafficked every year through deceptive promises deliberately crafted to exploit their hopes, ambitions, and vulnerabilities. It noted that cyber-enabled trafficking was rarely an isolated crime but often formed part of a wider network of organized criminal activity, with traffickers embedded in larger criminal groups that profit from the exploitation of victims.
Recognizing the warning signs of trafficking remains one of the most effective ways to protect oneself and others, UNODC emphasized. It identified seven common tactics used by traffickers to lure victims. The first, it stated, was the promise of lucrative jobs abroad with attractive benefits such as free accommodation, visas, and flights, often requiring little or no experience. UNODC cautioned that any offer that appeared too good to be true and pressures individuals to travel quickly without proper documentation or contracts should be treated with suspicion.
The organization advised Nigerians to verify all employment offers through official employers or licensed recruitment agencies before making commitments. It also warned against offers in which traffickers promise to cover all travel and processing expenses, noting that victims were frequently trapped in debt bondage after being told they must ‘work off’ inflated costs incurred on their behalf. Prospective travelers were urged to understand all financial arrangements before agreeing to relocate.
Secrecy was identified as a major red flag by UNODC, noting that traffickers often discourage victims from informing family members or trusted friends of their travel plans under various pretexts. It advised individuals to share their plans with trusted relatives and seek independent advice whenever they were in doubt. The organization warned against surrendering passports or other identity documents to unauthorized persons, stressing that traffickers frequently confiscate victims’ documents to restrict their movement once exploitation begins.
UNODC highlighted fake opportunities in sports, entertainment, and social media influencing as another common tactic used to exploit talented young people seeking international careers. Offers involving football trials, modeling opportunities, music auditions, scholarships, or influencer opportunities should always be independently verified through official organizations before any commitment is made. The organization further warned against promises of quick wealth without clear explanations of job responsibilities, salaries, or working conditions. It encouraged Nigerians to ask questions, carefully read contracts, and seek guidance from knowledgeable persons before accepting opportunities.
Traffickers often manipulate victims by first gaining their trust, UNODC noted, emphasizing that perpetrators may be strangers, acquaintances, or persons known through religious settings, neighborhoods, or social groups. Grooming may occur over weeks or months before victims are subjected to exploitation, stressing that trust should never replace verification. ‘Human trafficking does not always begin with force. It often begins with promises that seem too good to be true and ends in deception and exploitation. Traffickers prey on hope, ambition, and vulnerability. They promise opportunity but deliver exploitation,’ it stated.
The organization urged Nigerians to remain vigilant and report suspected cases of human trafficking through the toll-free hotline of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), 627. It reiterated that while people’s dreams and aspirations are valid, they should never become tools for exploitation by human traffickers.