By Gabriel Ameh
ABUJA – The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) has warned that online recruitment scams and fake employment offers are increasingly being used by criminal networks to lure vulnerable Nigerians into human trafficking and forced exploitation.
Speaking at a press conference in Abuja ahead of the 2026 World Day Against Trafficking in Persons, the UNODC Country Representative, Cheikh Toure, said traffickers are exploiting digital technology and social media platforms to target job seekers, especially young people searching for better economic opportunities.
This year’s global theme, “Trapped Behind the Scam,” highlights the growing link between online fraud and human trafficking, drawing attention to victims who are deceived with fake job offers only to end up trapped in forced labour, forced criminality and other forms of exploitation.
Toure said many victims are recruited through fraudulent advertisements promising lucrative jobs abroad but are instead subjected to intimidation, abuse and exploitation by organised criminal networks.
According to him, the fight against trafficking must go beyond law enforcement and include greater investment in youth empowerment, skills acquisition, entrepreneurship and job creation.
He stressed that providing young Nigerians with access to decent employment and economic opportunities would significantly reduce their vulnerability to traffickers.
“If we are to tackle trafficking effectively, we must address the conditions that make people vulnerable in the first place. Every job created and every opportunity provided is one less chance for traffickers to exploit,” he said.
The UNODC representative described human trafficking as a serious violation of human rights that affects women, men and children while strengthening organised crime and weakening national development.
He identified four key priorities for combating the crime: strengthening public awareness and prevention, improving victim identification and protection, enhancing investigations and prosecution of traffickers, and deepening collaboration among governments, law enforcement agencies, civil society organisations, international partners, technology companies and the media.
Toure reaffirmed UNODC’s commitment to supporting Nigeria through stronger criminal justice systems, victim protection initiatives and sustainable development programmes aimed at preventing trafficking.
He also commended the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) for its leadership in combating human trafficking and called on journalists to promote responsible, survivor-centred reporting that exposes trafficking networks while protecting victims’ dignity and privacy.
The UNODC official noted that activities lined up ahead of the World Day Against Trafficking in Persons on July 30 including awareness campaigns, a public walk and a novelty football match will help mobilise greater public support against human trafficking.
He urged Nigerians to remain vigilant and remember that behind many online scams could be victims in need of protection, justice and support.
