A new trick of using fake jobs in the oil and gas sector by human traffickers to lure unsuspecting Nigerian youth out of the country into mostly West Africa countries has been uncovered by the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP).
The body said traffickers are exploiting the coordinated global brand trademarks and offering such unrealistic offers to traffic unsuspecting youth and other classes of people for various forms of exploitation.
Director-General of NAPTIP, Prof Fatima Waziri – Azi, made the revelation at a forum while discussing emerging trends in human trafficking for the year 2024.
NAPTIP has in recent times, redoubled its efforts through enhanced partnership, collaboration, diligent prosecution, and extensive awareness campaigns aimed at bolstering its operations and resulting in a significant increase in convictions of human traffickers.
The DG said: “As part of our comprehensive enlightenment strategies to equip Nigerians with timely and accurate information to reduce their vulnerability, we have received reports indicating that traffickers have adopted new tactics to lure unsuspecting victims, predominantly to Ghana, Cote d’Ivoire, Liberia, and other West African nations.”
He said: “Under the guise of lucrative employment opportunities in gold mining and oil companies, victims are enticed with promises of monthly incomes as high as $900.00, which, as always, are blatant lies.
“Victims are often instructed to bring N850, 000 for documentation and other logistical expenses. Upon arrival at their destination, traffickers confiscate this money, along with the victims’ phones and other personal belongings.”
