NAPTIP to Tighten Anti-Trafficking Net After 93 Convictions in 2025
The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) has announced plans to review and strengthen its counter-trafficking strategies in 2026, following the conviction of 93 human traffickers in 2025.
The Director General of NAPTIP, Binta Adamu Bello, disclosed this at the Agency’s headquarters in Abuja while reviewing its 2025 operations and outlining its strategic focus for 2026. She said the planned review is aimed at enhancing operational efficiency and tightening the noose on traffickers across the country.
According to Bello, NAPTIP intercepted over 2,500 potential victims of human trafficking in 2025. The victims were deceived, recruited and trafficked for various forms of exploitation within and outside Nigeria, with many rehabilitated after rescue.
She explained that following her directive to all commands for increased vigilance and monitoring, the Agency significantly scaled up its activities in 2025, resulting in improved interception, rescue, partnerships, awareness creation, prosecution and convictions.
“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 secured 93 convictions, which is remarkable considering the complexity involved in prosecuting and convicting a single trafficker,” Bello said.
She revealed that NAPTIP went after several high-profile traffickers during the year, including operators of orphanages and care homes whose alleged illegal activities were uncovered. Over 120 suspected trafficked children were rescued in the process, while some offenders were arrested, prosecuted and convicted, with others still under close surveillance.
Bello also disclosed that, in collaboration with international partners and stakeholders, NAPTIP rescued over 370 Nigerian victims of human trafficking from countries including Ghana, Senegal and Côte d’Ivoire.
She warned that 2026 would be even tougher for traffickers, noting that the Agency has deliberately scaled up operations to address emerging trends and challenges.
According to her, NAPTIP will intensify collaboration with other law enforcement agencies, development partners, civil society organisations and stakeholders, while strengthening synergy across the three tiers of government to enhance grassroots surveillance and detection.
The NAPTIP boss added that the Agency would deepen engagement with the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria, state governments, the National and State Assemblies, as well as the judiciary, to strengthen institutional support for anti-trafficking efforts.
“Through awareness and enlightenment programmes, especially in unreached communities and villages, we will continue to reduce vulnerability and build resistance against traffickers’ tactics. We are determined to make 2026 unbearable for traffickers to operate in Nigeria,” she said.
Bello further disclosed that within the first few days of 2026, NAPTIP had already secured the conviction of three traffickers, warning that more offenders would end up in jail unless they desist from human trafficking and related criminal activities.
