Traffickers now lure victims at gyms with pretend jobs — NAPTIP

News

By Linda Ikeji
5 November 2026, 8:16 pm

The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons has warned Nigerians towards falling sufferer to human traffickers who exploit social relationships, gyms and pretend job ads to recruit unsuspecting victims.

The company mentioned traffickers typically strategy girls in leisure centres and different social environments, construct relationships with them and step by step achieve their belief earlier than luring them into trafficking networks.

The spokesman for NAPTIP, Adekoye Vincent, gave the warning on Thursday, November 5, 2026 throughout a joint briefing by safety and intelligence businesses in Abuja.

According to Vincent, the traffickers generally disguise themselves as service suppliers providing help with home wants, procuring and different on a regular basis actions to determine familiarity with potential victims.

“Traffickers are increasingly exploiting social relationships and the vulnerabilities of unsuspecting individuals, particularly women, to lure victims into their traps,” he mentioned.

“One of the methods they use is to approach people in places such as gyms, recreational centres and other social environments.

“They initially present themselves as service providers, offering assistance with domestic needs, shopping, sourcing goods and other everyday activities.”

According to him, the traffickers obtain the telephone numbers of their targets and gradually build relationships by making themselves appear dependable and readily available to offer assistance.

He said some would deliberately appear whenever their potential victims encountered difficulties, including vehicle breakdowns, as part of efforts to win their confidence.

“These seemingly harmless gestures are often part of a deliberate strategy to gain the victim’s trust,” he mentioned.

The NAPTIP spokesman additionally raised considerations over the usage of pretend job ads, significantly on-line, to deceive job seekers and lure them into trafficking networks.

He disclosed that the company had recorded circumstances of Nigerians who travelled lengthy distances in the hunt for employment however ended up within the fingers of traffickers.

“We have recorded very disturbing cases involving people who travelled long distances in search of employment opportunities only to fall into the hands of traffickers,” he said.

“One particularly troubling case involved a lawyer who travelled from Benue State to a law chamber in Abuja but unfortunately fell into the wrong hands,” Vincent mentioned.

He added that he personally interacted with the victim, describing the experience as deeply disturbing.

Vincent further warned that trafficking cases could have devastating emotional and psychological consequences for victims, sometimes resulting in unwanted pregnancies.

He urged Nigerians to exercise caution when establishing relationships online or accepting unsolicited offers of assistance and employment.

“People should avoid rushing into online friendships and should always verify the identities and intentions of individuals they meet, particularly those making attractive offers of jobs, financial assistance or other opportunities,” he suggested.