Oluremi Tinubu Warns Nigerians Over Rising Online Scam Trafficking

(Oluremi Tinubu. Photo by Nations News)

Nigeria’s First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, has advised Nigerians to be more aware of online scams, which are increasingly being used as instruments for human trafficking.

In a speech commemorating the 2026 World Day Against Trafficking in Persons, which is marked annually on July 30, she stated that human trafficking has progressed beyond traditional forms to include internet fraud, coerced criminal activity, and organized multinational crime.

Referencing this year’s theme, “Trapped Behind the Scam,” (name) explained that many young Nigerians, including graduates, are being lured abroad through fake employment and investment opportunities.

Once recruited, victims often find themselves trapped in exploitative conditions and are compelled to take part in criminal operations.

She urged citizens, communities and institutions to stay alert and report suspicious activities, emphasising the need to shield vulnerable individuals from the increasingly sophisticated tactics used by tr@ffickers.

She called for continued vigilance, protection of the vulnerable, and assurance that no one falls prey to exploitation, adding that collective effort is required to build a society where people can live in freedom, dignity and hope.

The World Day Against Trafficking in Persons was instituted by the United Nations General Assembly in 2013 to raise awareness about human tr@fficking and promote the protection of victims’ rights.

Nigeria continues to grapple with significant tr@fficking-related challenges, functioning as a source, transit and destination country.

Figures from the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) show that 156 victims have been rescued since January 2026, while more than 300 Nigerians were repatriated from Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire in 2025.

NAPTIP’s Director-General, Binta Adamu Bello, recently disclosed that over 300,000 people are tr@fficked annually into scam compounds across Southeast Asia.

Victims are often coerced, under threats and intimidation, into running romance scams, cryptocurrency fraud schemes and other online investment scams targeting people in countries such as the United States, United Kingdom and Canada.

One of the fastest-growing tr@fficking methods involves fake job offers in fields like information technology, digital marketing and cryptocurrency trading.

Upon arrival abroad, victims reportedly have their travel documents seized and are forced into carrying out fraudulent online activities.

Note: the source text attributes the statement to “Tinubu” (typically referring to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu) but then switches to “she” throughout this looks like a naming inconsistency in the original.

You may want to verify the correct speaker’s name before publishing; I’ve left it as “(name)” pending confirmation.