Troops Avert Tragedy as IED Explodes During Route Clearance Patrol in Kukawa

By Zagazola Makama

Troops of Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK) have successfully averted a potential tragedy after encountering a booby-trap improvised explosive device (IED) during a routine route clearance operation along the Cross Kauwa–Kekeno–Monguno Main Supply Route (MSR) in Kukawa Local Government Area of Borno State.

Intelligence sources told Zagazola Makama that the incident occurred at about 7:30 a.m. on Tuesday, July 22, when troops of the 123 Special Forces Battalion were conducting a routine MSR scanning patrol at Dowoshi village.

According to the sources, the patrol team detected and triggered a concealed booby-trap IED emplaced by terrorists along the route.

Following the explosion, the Brigade’s Mine Search Team (MST) was immediately deployed to reinforce troops at the scene and cordon off the affected area to prevent further danger and facilitate exploitation of the site.

Fortunately, no contact was made with the terrorists, while no personnel or equipment casualties were recorded during the incident.

Military sources said fragments recovered from the exploded IED have been forwarded to the Headquarters Theatre Command in Maiduguri for forensic analysis to aid ongoing counter-IED operations and intelligence gathering.

The incident underscores the persistent threat posed by terrorists through the use of improvised explosive devices along critical supply routes in the Lake Chad region, even as troops continue sustained clearance operations to ensure freedom of movement for military convoys and civilians.

Sources added that troops remain vigilant, with morale and fighting efficiency described as high as operations continue across the theatre.

Troops Avert Tragedy as IED Explodes During Route Clearance Patrol in Kukawa

UNODC: Youth Unemployment Fueling Human Trafficking as Criminals Exploit Digital Platforms

By: Michael Mike

The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) has warned that rising youth unemployment and the increasing misuse of digital technologies are creating fertile ground for human traffickers, urging Nigeria to combine stronger law enforcement with sustained investment in jobs, skills development and economic opportunities for young people.

Speaking at the pre-World Day Against Trafficking in Persons press conference held at the headquarters of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) in Abuja on Wednesday, the UNODC Country Representative, Mr. Cheikh Toure, said trafficking networks are becoming increasingly sophisticated by using social media, online recruitment platforms and fake employment opportunities to lure unsuspecting victims.

The press conference formally launched activities leading to the 2026 World Day Against Trafficking in Persons, observed globally on July 30, under the theme, “Trapped Behind the Scam.”

Toure described the campaign theme as a timely reminder that many people involved in online scam operations are themselves victims of trafficking who were deceived with promises of legitimate employment or opportunities abroad before being subjected to coercion, intimidation, forced labour and other forms of exploitation.

He said the global campaign seeks to expose the hidden human suffering behind cyber-enabled crimes and encourage governments and citizens to look beyond the apparent criminal activity to identify and protect victims.

According to him, criminal organisations are increasingly exploiting digital technologies to target vulnerable groups, particularly young people searching for employment and better economic prospects.

“What begins as the promise of legitimate employment can, in a matter of days, become a descent into forced labour, forced criminality, or other grave forms of trafficking and exploitation,” he warned.

The UNODC representative stressed that trafficking continues to flourish where legitimate economic opportunities are lacking, arguing that many unemployed young people become easy targets for traffickers offering false promises of jobs overseas.

He said tackling the crime effectively requires more than arrests and prosecutions, insisting that governments must prioritise youth empowerment, vocational training, entrepreneurship and inclusive economic growth.

“If we are to be honest with ourselves, we must acknowledge that trafficking thrives where legitimate opportunity is scarce,” Toure said, adding that every new job created and every skill acquired reduces the chances of traffickers exploiting vulnerable young people.

He described investment in youth as not only a development priority but also a frontline strategy for preventing human trafficking.

Toure noted that trafficking remains one of the gravest violations of human rights, affecting women, men and children while strengthening organised criminal networks and undermining national development.

He outlined four key priorities for combating the menace, including strengthening public awareness to expose deceptive recruitment practices and online scams, improving the identification and protection of victims, intensifying investigations and prosecution of trafficking syndicates, and expanding collaboration among governments, law enforcement agencies, civil society organisations, development partners, technology companies, community leaders and the media.

He also urged authorities to ensure that individuals forced into criminal activities through trafficking are recognised first as victims deserving protection and rehabilitation rather than immediate criminalisation.

Reaffirming UNODC’s commitment to supporting Nigeria, Toure said the organisation would continue assisting efforts aimed at preventing trafficking, protecting survivors and strengthening criminal justice systems in line with international standards.

He added that the agency would also continue supporting initiatives that expand educational opportunities, improve youth employability and address the socio-economic conditions that make trafficking possible.

Highlighting activities planned for the 2026 campaign, Toure said awareness walks, a novelty football match and the main World Day Against Trafficking in Persons commemoration on July 30 would serve as platforms to mobilise public support against trafficking.

He commended the media for its critical role in exposing trafficking networks, raising public awareness and promoting survivor-centred reporting that protects the dignity and privacy of victims.

Toure urged journalists to continue highlighting recruitment scams and other trafficking tactics while avoiding reports that could further traumatise survivors.

He concluded by calling on governments, international organisations, civil society, the private sector and citizens to strengthen collective action against trafficking, stressing that behind many online scams are victims in need of protection, justice and support.

According to him, only sustained collaboration and meaningful investment in the future of young people will enable countries to prevent exploitation, dismantle trafficking networks and ensure that no one remains trapped by deception, coercion or exploitation.

Human trafficking remains one of the world’s fastest-growing organised crimes, generating billions of dollars annually for criminal syndicates. In recent years, authorities have recorded an increasing convergence between trafficking in persons and cyber-enabled fraud, with victims trafficked across borders and forced to participate in online scams under threats, violence and inhumane conditions. The 2026 global campaign seeks to draw international attention to this emerging trend while strengthening efforts to identify victims, prosecute traffickers and reduce vulnerabilities through prevention and economic empowerment.

UNODC: Youth Unemployment Fueling Human Trafficking as Criminals Exploit Digital Platforms

NAPTIP Raises Alarm Over Rise of ‘Fraud Factories’, Says Over 300,000 Victims Trapped in Global Scam Networks

By: Michael Mike

The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) has raised the alarm over the growing sophistication of human trafficking networks, warning that thousands of young people are being deceived, trafficked and forced into cybercrime operations disguised as employment opportunities.

The agency said the emerging trend, driven by technology and online recruitment platforms, has transformed human trafficking from its traditional forms of sexual exploitation, forced labour and domestic servitude into a digital-age crime where victims are held captive in illegal “fraud factories” across the world.

The Director-General of NAPTIP, Binta Adamu Bello, issued the warning on Wednesday during a press conference ahead of the 2026 World Day Against Trafficking in Persons commemoration in Nigeria.

She said this year’s global theme, “Trapped Behind the Scam,” captures the dangerous reality of victims forced into online fraud schemes after being lured with fake promises of lucrative jobs abroad.

According to her, many young Nigerians, particularly educated youths with digital skills, are targeted by criminal syndicates offering opportunities in information technology, digital marketing, customer service, cryptocurrency trading and other online professions.

“Upon arrival in foreign countries, especially parts of Asia, they discover that the promised jobs do not exist. Their passports are confiscated, their freedom restricted, and they are forced through threats, violence, intimidation or psychological coercion to carry out sophisticated online scams,” Bello said.

She explained that victims become prisoners behind computer screens, compelled to commit crimes against unsuspecting individuals worldwide while their traffickers profit from the proceeds.

The NAPTIP boss disclosed that more than 300,000 people are trafficked annually into scam operations across Southeast Asia, generating an estimated $64 billion in criminal revenue.

She identified countries such as Myanmar, Cambodia, Thailand and Laos as major locations where large-scale scam compounds operate, adding that similar criminal structures are beginning to emerge in Nigeria and other parts of Africa.

Bello said traffickers now exploit social media platforms, encrypted messaging applications, online recruitment portals, cryptocurrency systems and artificial intelligence tools to identify, recruit and control victims.

She described the recruitment process as a carefully organised criminal operation involving fake online job advertisements, digital grooming, fraudulent travel arrangements and eventual exploitation at scam centres.

“Recruiters create fake identities on social platforms, build trust with victims, arrange travel and upon arrival at the destination, passports are seized. Victims are then forced to engage in romance scams, investment fraud and cryptocurrency-related crimes,” she said.

She revealed that some victims who fail to meet criminal targets are subjected to torture, sexual violence, solitary confinement and other forms of brutal punishment.

NAPTIP Rescues Hundreds, Disrupts Scam Centres

The Director-General disclosed that NAPTIP rescued and repatriated more than 300 victims of cyber-enabled human trafficking from neighbouring countries, including Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire, in 2025.

She added that 156 victims have already been rescued since January 2026, with support from international partners, including organisations assisting victims trapped in Myanmar.

Bello further disclosed that the agency’s Cyber Response Team has disrupted several emerging scam training centres in Nigeria linked to activities popularly known as “Yahoo Plus,” “Yahoo Extra” and “Hustle Kingdom.”

According to her, some suspects involved in financially motivated extortion, sexual extortion and revenge pornography have been arrested and are currently facing prosecution.

She warned that the consequences of cyber-enabled trafficking extend beyond individual victims, affecting families, communities and Nigeria’s international reputation.

“Families lose contact with their loved ones. Parents spend their savings pursuing fake employment opportunities, while communities suffer the social and economic consequences of irregular migration,” she said.

839 Traffickers Convicted Since Agency’s Creation

Bello reaffirmed NAPTIP’s commitment to dismantling trafficking networks through intelligence-led investigations, prosecution and international cooperation.

She disclosed that the agency has secured the conviction of 839 traffickers since its establishment, including 47 convictions recorded from January 2026 to date.

She said the agency recently secured the conviction of a high-profile trafficker and his wife in Ondo State, with properties worth millions of naira forfeited to the government.

The NAPTIP chief said the agency would continue to strengthen cyber intelligence, expand international partnerships and deploy technology-driven strategies to identify criminal networks and rescue victims.

Warning to Traffickers

Issuing a stern warning to human traffickers, Bello said the era of operating without consequences was coming to an end.

“The days when traffickers operated with impunity are rapidly coming to an end. NAPTIP will continue to turn up the heat on traffickers until Nigeria becomes an increasingly hostile environment for every trafficking syndicate,” she said.

She urged young Nigerians to verify overseas job opportunities, avoid unofficial recruitment channels and report suspicious offers to relevant authorities.

As part of activities marking the 2026 World Day Against Trafficking in Persons, NAPTIP announced a series of programmes including public sensitisation campaigns, awareness walks, survivor support activities and community engagements across Nigeria.

Bello called on Nigerians, government institutions, civil society organisations and international partners to strengthen collaboration in preventing trafficking, protecting survivors and ensuring that criminal networks profiting from human exploitation are brought to justice.

“Together, through vigilance, partnership, compassion and innovation, we can ensure that no one remains trapped behind the scam,” she said.

NAPTIP Raises Alarm Over Rise of ‘Fraud Factories’, Says Over 300,000 Victims Trapped in Global Scam Networks