The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons, NAPTIP, has alerted Nigerians on new strategies by some suspected human traffickers who are impersonating global brand trademarks and offering fake oil and gas jobs to traffic unsuspecting people to neighboring West African countries for various forms of exploitation.
This was disclosed in a press statement by the Director-General of NAPTIP, Prof Fatima Waziri-Azi, in Abuja.
The statement reads, “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.
“Under the guise of lucrative employment opportunities in gold mining and oil companies, victims are enticed with promises of monthly incomes as high as Nine Hundred Dollars ($900.00), which, as always, are blatant lies.
“Victims are often instructed to bring up to Eight Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira (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.
“The targeted demographic includes male and female victims aged between 15 and 35 years old. They are typically trafficked through the waterways of Ode Jetty in Lagos en-route to Benin Republic and other parts of the West African region. Some victims are also trafficked via land routes”.
Waziri-Azi urged Nigerians to exercise caution, ask questions, and seek a second opinion before accepting any tempting offers.
Beware of fake job offers by human traffickers – NAPTIP alerts Nigerians