Sophia Michaels
Young Nigerians have been warned by the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) to be cautious of fraudulent oil and gas job offers in West African countries.
The agency disclosed that it uncovered a new ploy by some human traffickers exploiting coordinated global brand trademarks and offering 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.
A statement on Sunday by NAPTIP Communication Officer, Adekoye Vincent, said that the Director-General of NAPTIP, Prof Fatima Waziri–Azi, revealed the alarming trend at the agency’s headquarters in Abuja while discussing emerging trends in human trafficking for 2024.
Titled ‘Beware of Fake Oil and Gas Jobs in West African Countries… NAPTIPS Alerts Nigerians On New Tricks By Human Traffickers,’ the anti-human trafficking agency said it had redoubled its efforts recently 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.”
The statement quoted the NAPTIP DG as emphasising the need for comprehensive enlightenment strategies to equip Nigerians with timely and accurate information to reduce their vulnerability.
Waziri-Azi said, “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.
“Under the guise of lucrative employment opportunities in gold mining and oil companies, victims are enticed with promises of monthly incomes as high as Nine Hundred Dollars ($900.00), which, as always, are blatant lies.”
“Victims are often instructed to bring up to Eight Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira (N850,000) for documentation and other logistical expenses. Upon arrival at their destination, traffickers confiscate this money, along with the victims’ phones and other personal belongings,” the statement quoted her to have said.
“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 to Benin Republic and other parts of the West African region. Some victims are also trafficked via land routes.”
Waziri–Azi, however, reiterated her earlier appeal to Nigerians to exercise caution, ask questions, and seek a second opinion before accepting any tempting offers.
“Do not allow desperation to cloud your judgment,” the statement said.
“NAPTIP remains committed to combating human trafficking and protecting the rights and dignity of all Nigerians. For further information or to report suspected cases of human trafficking, please contact: 07030000203 or 627 (Only on the MTN Network).”
