Human trafficking: Group warns Nigerian youths about fake West African jobs

The Global Anti-Human Trafficking Organisation has issued an urgent warning to Nigerian youths and parents regarding fraudulent employment schemes linked to QNET.

Under the guise of lucrative jobs abroad, unsuspecting young Nigerians are being lured into West African nations—including Côte d’Ivoire, Burkina Faso, and Senegal—only to find themselves trapped in forced labour, severe debt bondage, and human trafficking networks.

The group also called for stronger collaboration among governments, development partners, philanthropists and individuals to intensify efforts against human trafficking in Nigeria, Africa and across the world.

The founder of the organisation, Prosper Michael, made the call in a statement on Thursday to commemorate the 2026 World Day Against Trafficking in Persons, themed “Trapped Behind the Scam.”

He expressed concern over the increasing trafficking of Nigerians to West Africa, North Africa and the Middle East for sexual and labour exploitation.

Michael said many Nigerians continued to fall victim to traffickers who lure them with false promises of lucrative jobs abroad despite years of public awareness campaigns.

“Many victims trafficked for sexual exploitation are confined in makeshift shelters and forced into prostitution until they repay debts reportedly amounting to about ₦4 million, while those trafficked for labour exploitation are compelled to work for more than two years before regaining their freedom,” the statement read.

He warned Nigerians to be wary of agents offering travel opportunities to Libya, Egypt and Iraq, as well as those facilitating movement to some West African countries for sexual exploitation.

According to him, GAHTO has rescued several victims from sexual exploitation in different countries, including Libya and Egypt, since the beginning of 2026.

“There are Nigerians trapped in a camp known as Oshofana in Libya where victims are reportedly forced to contact their families to pay ransoms ranging from ₦2 million to ₦3 million before they can regain their freedom. Many Nigerians stranded in Egypt and Iraq are desperate to return home but cannot afford transportation. It is both heartbreaking and embarrassing,” the statement noted.

Michael advised parents to maintain close relationships with their children, particularly young girls, and urged young men to avoid fraudulent employment schemes, especially those linked to QNET, alleging that many youths had been trafficked to Côte d’Ivoire, Burkina Faso and Senegal under the guise of employment.

While acknowledging Nigerians’ constitutional right to migrate, he stressed the need to use legal migration channels to avoid becoming victims of trafficking in the search for better opportunities.

He appealed to government agencies, development partners and well-meaning Nigerians to support the rescue, rehabilitation and reintegration of trafficking victims stranded abroad.

Michael urged philanthropists, corporate organisations and other stakeholders to support GAHTO’s awareness campaigns, rescue operations and survivor empowerment initiatives.

“Our job is not complete if there is no empowerment after rescue. Some rescued victims have been re-trafficked because of their vulnerability and lack of sustainable means of livelihood. They cannot rebuild their lives on promises alone; they need tangible support after rescue,” the statement read.

He commended the Plateau State Government and the Berom Community for supporting trafficking victims and expressed hope that other state governments would provide similar assistance whenever their citizens required rescue and rehabilitation.

Michael emphasised that combating human trafficking requires collective action, saying civil society organisations could not tackle the challenge alone, and reaffirmed GAHTO’s commitment to working with governments, security agencies, development partners and the public to eradicate human trafficking and restore hope to survivors.