NAPTIP rescues 156 victims, repatriates over 300, warns of digital trafficking shift
via Punch Nigeria6 min read
The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons NAPTIP announced it has rescued 156 human trafficking victims since January 2026 and repatriated over 300 others from Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire in 2025. Director-General of NAPTIP, Binta Bello, highlighted a concerning shift in trafficking, with criminal networks now exploiting the digital space to lure educated, tech-savvy Nigerian graduates into scam compounds, particularly in Southeast Asia. These victims are promised lucrative IT or digital marketing jobs abroad but upon arrival, their passports are confiscated, freedom restricted, and they are forced into online scam operations through threats, violence, and debt bondage. Bello stated that over 300,000 people are trafficked into scam operations across Southeast Asia annually, generating an estimated $64 billion, with 74% of identified scam compounds in the Mekong region. Conditions for those trapped are severe, including torture, rape, and organ harvesting for those who fail to meet targets. NAPTIP's Cyber Response Team has disrupted scam centers in Nigeria, arresting operators of "fraud academies." The agency has secured 839 convictions since its inception, with 47 between January and July 2026. Cheik Touré, UNODC Country Representative, emphasized that tackling trafficking requires investing in economic opportunities for young Nigerians, as trafficking thrives where legitimate opportunities are scarce. Dimanche Sharon, IOM’s Chief of Mission, noted that yo
Free daily or weekly digest of the most important stories from across 18 African countries. No spam, unsubscribe any time.
This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by Punch Nigeria.
Nottingham Forest striker Taiwo Awoniyi is expected to stay in England beyond his current contract, aiming to qualify for a British passport, according to former Super Eagles midfielder Seyi Olofinjana. Awoniyi joined Forest in June 2022 for a club-record £17m. Olofinjana, who discovered Awoniyi as a teenager and has guided his career, stated that the striker intends to remain in England long enough to secure British citizenship. Under UK immigration rules, Awoniyi needs five continuous years of living and working in England to be eligible for Indefinite Leave to Remain ILR, which he could apply for in July 2027. After holding ILR for 12 months, he could then apply for British citizenship, potentially obtaining a British passport around July 2028, provided immigration rules do not change. This timeline aligns with his long-term plans at Forest, making a move outside England unlikely before then. Awoniyi has scored 21 goals and provided five assists in 90 league appearances for Forest across four Premier League seasons. He recently participated in the club's training camp in Spain under new manager Oliver Glasner and captained a friendly match against Blackburn Rovers, where he also scored.
Nigerian sprinter Favour Onyah has expressed her frustration and threatened to stop representing Nigeria after being excluded from the athletics squad for the 2026 Commonwealth Games. Onyah had qualified at the national trials, winning the women’s 400m final with a time of 52.68s and being selected for the women’s 4x400m relay team. She was among 15 athletes who began camp in Abuja, but did not proceed to the final phase of preparations in Scotland. In a TikTok post, Onyah stated, “Yes, I qualified for my first senior Commonwealth Games. And yes, I won’t be running for Nigeria. You can never guess the reason. I already forgave them three times; I don’t plan on making it four. You all are free to judge me for the next step I’ll be taking. I’ve had enough.” Earlier this year, Onyah represented Nigeria at the African Senior Athletics Championships and is a triple gold medalist from the 2025 CAA U-20 African Athletics Championships. Former Nigerian sprinter and athletics coach Deji Aliu criticized the Athletics Federation of Nigeria for inconsistency in its selection standards, emphasizing the importance of clear, published criteria for building trust with athletes, the public, and sponsors.
Championship club Wolverhampton Wanderers has reportedly prevented Nigerian striker Tolu Arokodare from training with the first team, despite new FIFA regulations designed to protect players from such practices. Reports indicate that Wolves canceled a training session after Arokodare refused to leave the pitch when instructed not to train. The following day, additional security was reportedly deployed to prevent the 25-year-old from returning. This situation arises weeks into the tenure of new manager Cesar Peixoto. Arokodare, who scored six goals last season, has been linked with a move away, with Serie A clubs Genoa and Fiorentina reportedly interested. Fiorentina's offer was reportedly rejected, and Arokodare also declined a move to Trabzonspor. The timing of this dispute is notable as FIFA recently introduced reforms to its Regulations on the Status and Transfer of Players, in agreement with FIFPRO. These revised rules prohibit clubs from making players train separately or placing them in "bomb squads" to exert pressure during transfer negotiations. FIFPRO stated that these reforms aim to protect players from abusive practices like demoting them or forcing them to train in isolation. Wolves have made several new signings, including Kieran Trippier, Raúl Jiménez, Rafiki Said, and Ladislav Krejčí, bringing their summer spending to approximately £26 million.