The federal government has raised concerns over the growing use of digital platforms by human traffickers to lure and exploit victims, calling it a rapidly evolving, borderless threat that requires immediate and decisive action.
Speaking at the 27th National Stakeholders’ Consultative Forum on Human Trafficking in Abuja on Wednesday, the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi SAN, emphasized that Nigeria must counter this challenge with equal speed and innovation.
ALSO READ: 11 PDP governors sue Tinubu over Rivers emergency rule
“Trafficking has gone digital. We must act fast or risk being outpaced by criminals who now use sophisticated online tools to recruit, control, and exploit victims,” he said.
HUMAN TRAFFICKING, THE WORLD’S THIRD MOST LUCRATIVE CRIMINAL ENTERPRISE
Fagbemi identified human trafficking as the world’s third most lucrative criminal enterprise—following drug and arms trafficking—and emphasized the need for stronger legal frameworks, institutional support, and technological innovation to combat it.
FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM: Get the most important news on your social media feed
Binta Adamu Bello, Director General of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), highlighted the agency’s growing digital capacity in response to the evolving nature of the crime.
FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK: Get the most important news on your social media feed
“Our battle has shifted online, and so has our strategy,” she said, noting that over 160 data officers have been trained nationwide and new digital tools deployed for improved case tracking and coordination.
Bello added that more than 7,000 victims were rescued and rehabilitated between 2022 and 2024, with 205 convictions recorded during that time.
FOLLOW US ON X: Get the most important news on your social media feed
The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) Country Representative praised Nigeria’s efforts, underscoring that “policy means nothing without action on the ground.”
READ MORE: DIASPORA LENS
