The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons has cautioned Nigerians about the growing tactics employed by human traffickers, including exploiting social connections, recreational facilities and fraudulent employment offers to recruit unsuspecting individuals.
The agency disclosed that some traffickers target women at gyms, recreational centres and other social gatherings, where they initiate friendships and gradually establish trust before manipulating their victims into trafficking arrangements.
NAPTIP spokesperson, Adekoye Vincent, issued the warning on Thursday during a joint briefing involving security and intelligence agencies in Abuja.
Vincent revealed that traffickers also assume the identities of individuals offering personal assistance, using services such as shopping, domestic support and the sourcing of household items to create a sense of familiarity with their targets.
He said, “Traffickers are increasingly exploiting social relationships and the vulnerabilities of unsuspecting individuals, particularly women, to lure victims into their traps.
‘One of the methods they use is to approach people in places such as gyms, recreational centres and other social environments.
“They initially present themselves as service providers, offering assistance with domestic needs, shopping, sourcing goods and other everyday activities.”
He explained that after making initial contact, the perpetrators usually obtain the telephone numbers of their targets and maintain regular communication to establish themselves as trustworthy individuals who can be relied upon whenever assistance is needed.
According to him, some traffickers deliberately position themselves to offer help whenever their targets encounter personal challenges, including vehicle breakdowns, as part of a calculated effort to secure their confidence.
Vincent noted that such acts of kindness were often deliberately orchestrated to conceal the perpetrators’ actual intentions and make their targets less suspicious.
“These seemingly harmless gestures are often part of a deliberate strategy to gain the victim’s trust,” he said.
The agency’s spokesperson also identified fraudulent employment advertisements, particularly those circulated through online platforms, as another major avenue through which traffickers deceive job seekers and draw them into exploitative networks.
He said NAPTIP had documented disturbing incidents involving Nigerians who embarked on lengthy journeys in pursuit of employment opportunities but eventually became victims of human trafficking.
“We have recorded very disturbing cases involving people who travelled long distances in search of employment opportunities only to fall into the hands of traffickers.
“One particularly troubling case involved a lawyer who travelled from Benue State to a law chamber in Abuja but unfortunately fell into the wrong hands,” Vincent said.
He disclosed that he had personally engaged with the affected individual, describing the circumstances surrounding the incident as particularly disturbing.
Vincent further warned that the consequences of human trafficking extended beyond physical exploitation, noting that victims could suffer severe emotional and psychological trauma, with some cases resulting in unwanted pregnancies.
He consequently advised Nigerians to exercise greater vigilance when developing relationships with strangers online or responding to unsolicited offers of employment, financial support and other forms of assistance.
“People should avoid rushing into online friendships and should always verify the identities and intentions of individuals they meet, particularly those making attractive offers of jobs, financial assistance or other opportunities,” he advised.
