The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), has announced plans to review the agency’s counter-trafficking policies and operational strategies to strengthen efforts against human traffickers across Nigeria in 2026.
Speaking in Abuja, the Director General, Binta Adamu Bello, highlighted the agency’s achievements in 2025, noting that NAPTIP secured the conviction of 93 traffickers and intercepted over 2,500 potential victims, many of whom were deceived, recruited and trafficked for exploitation both domestically and abroad. A significant number of the rescued victims have since undergone rehabilitation.”
Her commitment was outlined in a press statement made available to journalists by NAPTIP National Press Officer, Mr Vincent Adekoye, which also focused on strategic priorities for the coming year.
The statement reads: “It is worth recalling that, following the directive from the Director General, Binta Adamu Bello, to all Commands to increase monitoring and vigilance, the agency doubled its activities in 2025, resulting in increased interception and rescue, partnership, awareness creation, prosecution, and conviction of offenders.”
“The year 2025 was unpleasant for human traffickers in the country. We outsmarted the traffickers and their antics, and this resulted in the impressive number of convictions we recorded. The agency recorded 93 convictions. This is remarkable, bearing in mind what it takes to prosecute and convict one trafficker,” she said.
“In 2025, NAPTIP went after a number of the so-called high-profile traffickers, while scores of them were smoked out of hiding, arrested, prosecuted and convicted; others remain under close watch. Among the high-profile traffickers were operators of orphanages and care homes across the country, whose alleged nefarious activities were exposed, and over 120 suspected trafficked children were rescued.”
“In the same vein, NAPTIP, in collaboration with international partners and stakeholders, rescued over 370 Nigerian victims from countries including Ghana, Senegal and Côte d’Ivoire.”
“As unpleasant as the year 2025 was for the traffickers, a real hard time awaits them in 2026. We have deliberately scaled up our operations to address evolving challenges and trends. Specifically, we shall increase collaboration with sister law enforcement agencies, development partners, civil society organisations, and other stakeholders,” Bello emphasised.
The Director General also urged greater coordination with all levels of government and non-state actors, including the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), to improve grassroots surveillance and detection of human trafficking.
