National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) has issued an alert on new tricks by human traffickers, who now offer juicy job opportunities in the oil and gas sector in West Africa.
Director General, NAPTIP, Prof. Fatima Waziri-Azi, issued the alert in a statement signed by the agency’s Communication Officer, Vincent Adekoye, yesterday, in Abuja.
She said that the agency has uncovered a new ploy by some suspected human traffickers, who are exploiting coordinated global brand trademarks and making unrealistic oil and gas job offers to traffic unsuspecting youths and other classes of people to neighbouring West African countries for various forms of exploitation.
She said that these, among other things, are some of the emerging trends discovered in the crime of trafficking in persons in the West African region.
She said: “In recent times, NAPTIP has redoubled its efforts through enhanced partnership, collaboration, diligent prosecution and extensive awareness campaigns aimed at bolstering its operations, resulting in a significant increase in convictions of human traffickers.
“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.”
Explaining how this trick is deployed, Waziri-Azi 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, (N1,322,100.00), which as always are blatant lies.”
“Victims are often instructed to bring up to N850, 000 for documentation and other logistical expenses. Upon arrival at their destination, traffickers confiscate this money, along with victims’ phones and other personal belongings.”
The agency said that those usually targeted with this trick are male and female victims aged between 15 and 35 years old.
“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 Benin Republic and other parts of the West African region. Some victims are also trafficked via land routes.
“I urge you to exercise caution, ask questions and seek a second opinion before accepting any tempting offers. Do not allow desperation to cloud your judgment.”
