NAPTIP Cracks Down on Traffickers as 23 Nigerians Return from Thailand

The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) has rescued and repatriated 23 Nigerian youths trafficked to Thailand, exposing what authorities describe as a disturbing new dimension of human trafficking linked to forced cybercrime operations in Southeast Asia.

The development was disclosed in Abuja by the agency’s Head of Press and Public Relations Unit, Vincent Adekoye, who said the operation was carried out in collaboration with Eden (Myanmar), the British Government, civil society partners in South Asia, and the Nigerian Embassy in Bangkok.

According to NAPTIP, the victims were lured abroad with false promises of scholarships and lucrative employment opportunities, only to be trafficked to countries including Thailand, Myanmar, Laos, and Cambodia. Upon arrival, they were allegedly forced into cyber-enabled crimes such as romance scams, cryptocurrency fraud, and investment scams, targeting individuals and organisations in the United States, United Kingdom, Ethiopia, and Canada.

The agency revealed that the returnees have already arrived in Nigeria and are currently undergoing profiling, medical screening, and psychosocial support as part of their rehabilitation and reintegration process.

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NAPTIP Director-General, Hajia Binta Adamu-Bello, described the trend as a dangerous shift in trafficking tactics, noting that traffickers now target young Nigerians with computer and IT skills, particularly those perceived as disciplined and focused. She said victims were promised scholarships or technology-based jobs abroad but were instead trained to execute online fraud schemes while being closely monitored in confined facilities.

Adamu-Bello further raised alarm over disturbing allegations made by some of the victims during interrogation. She disclosed that individuals who resisted participating in the fraudulent activities were reportedly subjected to severe punishment. Some were allegedly confined in a facility described as a “dark room,” while there were claims that others were killed or had their organs harvested — particularly younger victims with no history of smoking.

Describing the situation as a troubling evolution of transnational organised crime, the NAPTIP boss reiterated her earlier warning that traffickers would face tougher consequences. She pledged improved intelligence gathering, stronger inter-agency cooperation, and enhanced international partnerships to dismantle the syndicates behind the operations.

She also commended the role played by the Nigerian Embassy in Bangkok, which facilitated the repatriation process, including the issuance of Emergency Travel Certificates (ETCs) for affected victims.

The latest rescue underscores growing concerns about Nigerian youths being trafficked to Southeast Asia for forced involvement in online scams. Authorities have repeatedly warned that criminal networks exploit unemployment and economic vulnerability to lure young Nigerians abroad under deceptive recruitment schemes.

NAPTIP urged Nigerians, especially job seekers, to verify overseas employment offers through appropriate government channels and report suspicious activities to the agency. The commission reaffirmed its commitment to protecting citizens from human trafficking, cyber exploitation, and other forms of organised international crime.

NAPTIP Cracks Down on Traffickers as 23 Nigerians Return from Thailand

Kwara, Katsina Bloodshed: TMC Condemns Attacks, Dismisses ‘Jihadist Preacher’ Claims

The national headquarters of The Muslim Congress (TMC) has strongly condemned the recent coordinated attacks in Kwara State and Katsina State that left more than 200 people dead, describing the incidents as a troubling sign of the growing normalisation of mass killings in Nigeria.

In a statement issued on Tuesday by its Amir, AbdulWasi’i Bangbala, the organisation said the scale and brutality of the attacks represent a dangerous escalation of insecurity across parts of the country.

According to reports, the worst of the attacks occurred in Woro community, Kwara State, where at least 170 people were reportedly killed in what TMC described as a methodical and coordinated assault that virtually wiped out the community. Homes and properties were destroyed, leaving survivors traumatised and displaced. In a related attack in Katsina State, no fewer than 21 residents were killed inside their homes, further compounding fears over worsening security challenges in northern Nigeria. TMC stressed that the victims were not mere statistics but families, breadwinners and entire communities whose futures were violently cut short.

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The group acknowledged and commended President Bola Tinubu for his swift condemnation of the attacks and the immediate deployment of an army battalion to the affected areas. Bangbala noted that the response aligns with the administration’s broader national security measures, including intensified security operations and increased police recruitment aimed at stabilising troubled regions. However, he emphasised that the magnitude of the killings demands more than reactive interventions.

TMC called for a strengthened national security architecture, urging the federal government to prioritise improved intelligence gathering, faster emergency response mechanisms, clear performance benchmarks for security agencies and enhanced protection for vulnerable rural communities. The organisation maintained that repeated cycles of violence require proactive and systemic reforms rather than periodic condemnations.

The organisation also rejected claims portraying the attackers as “jihadist preachers,” describing the Kwara incident as a calculated act of terrorism rather than a religious mission. Bangbala argued that the military-style coordination of the assault, the siege of the village and prior alerts reportedly sent to security agencies point to a premeditated massacre. According to him, the narrative of “preaching” appears to have been used as a cover for violence against civilians.

TMC further expressed concern over what it described as a muted response to the killings from sections of the international community, parts of the mainstream media and some religious organisations. The group said the limited global attention contrasts sharply with reactions to similar tragedies elsewhere, raising questions about selective outrage and unequal valuation of human lives.

Describing repeated calls for government action as “exhausting and heartbreaking,” TMC stated that Nigerians deserve sustained and effective protection rather than periodic condolences after mass killings. The organisation urged citizens to unite against insecurity, stressing that violence threatens all Nigerians regardless of religion, ethnicity or background.

Bangbala called on the federal government to treat the Kwara and Katsina killings as a decisive turning point by adopting a comprehensive strategy that tackles not only violent extremism but also its root causes, including poverty, limited access to education and systemic injustice. He concluded that only a holistic and sustained approach can guarantee lasting peace and prevent further loss of lives in Nigeria.

Kwara, Katsina Bloodshed: TMC Condemns Attacks, Dismisses ‘Jihadist Preacher’ Claims

Court Hears Eyewitness Accounts in Murder Trial of ARISE News Journalist

The trial of eleven men accused of murdering ARISE News journalist Somtochukwu Maduagwu and estate security guard Barnabas Danlami began on Tuesday at the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court, Abuja, with witnesses providing detailed accounts of the night of the armed attack.

The defendants—Shamsu Hassan, Sani Sirajo, Hassan Isah, Abubakar Alkamu, Abdulsalam Saleh, Suleiman Badamasi, Zaharadeen Mohammed, Musa Umar (“Small”), Mashkur Jamil, Suleiman Sani, and Abubakar Usman—were produced from the Kuje Correctional Centre after missing court on Monday. They are facing a nine-count charge including murder, armed robbery, and criminal conspiracy, and all pleaded not guilty.

The prosecution opened its case with testimony from Sani Yusuf, a civil engineer and former resident of Unique Apartments, Katampe, Abuja, who recounted being awakened in the early hours of 29 September 2025 by gunfire, banging at his door, and masked intruders speaking Hausa. Yusuf said the attackers demanded valuables, including his Samsung Galaxy S25 phone and MacBook Air laptop, and tried to force him to transfer money from his phone.

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Yusuf told the court that he heard screams and commotion across multiple apartments, including a female voice calling for help. He discovered that security guard Barnabas Danlami had been shot, and neighbours rushed him to Maitama District Hospital, but he later died. Yusuf also identified his neighbour, Somtochukwu Maduagwu, who suffered a fatal head injury and was pronounced dead at the hospital.

Another witness, Fatou Toborteh, described how armed men invaded her apartment around 3:00 a.m., taking valuables including phones, cash, a laptop, and car keys for her Honda CR-V. After the attackers fled, she and other residents found a woman lying in blood, later confirmed as Ms Maduagwu.

The presiding judge, Justice Mohammed Idris, adjourned the case until 12 February 2026 for continuation of hearings. Witnesses noted that the suspects wore masks, making immediate identification difficult, but their testimonies aim to establish a clear timeline of the crime.

The trial has drawn national attention, highlighting concerns over residential security, violent crime, and the safety of journalists in Nigeria. Media advocacy groups continue to call for enhanced protection measures for reporters, particularly those covering high-risk assignments.

Court Hears Eyewitness Accounts in Murder Trial of ARISE News Journalist