The United Kingdom and the Nigeria have warned Nigerians to thoroughly verify overseas job offers following a surge in cyber trafficking operations targeting vulnerable job seekers.
The caution was issued in Abuja during a survivor centred event titled Confronting the Global Scam Centre Crisis Perspectives of Nigerian Survivors. The programme was organised by the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons in partnership with the British High Commission.
The event brought together recently repatriated Nigerians trafficked to Myanmar Laos Cambodia and Thailand where they were forced into sophisticated online fraud operations under exploitative conditions.
Speaking at the gathering the UK Deputy High Commissioner Gill Lever Obe said the forum aimed to amplify the voices of survivors and prevent others from falling victim. She noted that the UK is working closely with NAPTIP the Ministry of Foreign Affairs EDEN and the International Organization for Migration to ensure trauma informed care and safe repatriation.
Citing figures from the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights report titled A Wicked Problem she revealed that at least 120000 people are currently trapped in scam centres in Myanmar with more than 300000 victims across Southeast Asia.
NAPTIP Director General Binta Adamu Bello represented at the event by Kehinde Akomolafe said survivors testimonies expose the brutality of trafficking networks that strip victims of dignity and freedom.
Authorities stressed that legitimate employers do not recruit solely through social media request upfront payments or use tourist visas for employment. They urged Nigerians to verify offers through official channels and report suspicious recruitment schemes to relevant authorities.
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