Kogi Moves To Curb Human Trafficking, Warns Against Online Recruitment Scams

The Kogi State Government has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening measures aimed at preventing human trafficking, as stakeholders called for greater collaboration to combat emerging forms of exploitation driven by online scams and deceptive recruitment.

The commitment was made on Thursday during a state-level dialogue to commemorate the 2026 World Day Against Trafficking in Persons, with the theme, “Trapped Behind the Scam.”

Delivering her welcome address, Rachael Remilekun Akande said this year’s global theme draws attention to the evolving tactics of traffickers who now exploit digital platforms, fake job advertisements, fraudulent recruitment agencies and deceptive online relationships to lure victims.

According to her, many victims are transported across borders or within countries and forced into cyber-enabled fraud, online scam operations, forced labour, sexual exploitation and other forms of abuse.

She noted that Nigeria continues to grapple with complex trafficking challenges driven by unemployment, poverty, insecurity, irregular migration, low public awareness and the increasing sophistication of organised criminal networks.

Akande said Kogi State, being a major transit corridor linking different parts of the country, is particularly vulnerable and requires sustained and coordinated interventions.

She stressed that human trafficking destroys lives, weakens communities, undermines economic development and poses a threat to national security.

She, therefore, called for stronger collaboration among government institutions, law enforcement agencies, the judiciary, immigration authorities, educational institutions, traditional and religious leaders, civil society organisations, the media, the private sector and development partners.

According to her, the dialogue was organised to examine emerging trafficking trends, particularly those linked to digital technologies and online scams, identify practical prevention strategies, strengthen victim protection and rehabilitation, improve prosecution of offenders and deepen public awareness.

She urged stakeholders to renew their commitment to ensuring that no resident of Kogi State becomes a victim of deception, exploitation or organised criminal networks.

Also speaking, the Kogi State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Barr. Muizudeen Yunus Abdullahi (SAN), said the state government would continue to strengthen measures aimed at deterring human trafficking in all its forms.

He said the government has continued to strengthen the justice system to guarantee victims access to justice while creating employment opportunities for youths, promoting qualitative education and implementing economic empowerment programmes to reduce vulnerability.

The Attorney-General commended civil society organisations and the media for sustaining advocacy against human trafficking and amplifying the voices of survivors.

The Anthony general represented by a Deputy Director, Gender-Based Violence, in the ministry, Juliana Jonathan Omale, said the event was not only to remember victims but also to celebrate survivors of trafficking and gender-based violence.

He explained that human trafficking extends beyond taking people abroad illegally, noting that it includes all forms of exploitation involving coercion, deception or abuse of power.

According to him internal trafficking remains widespread, with traffickers luring children and young persons from rural communities to urban centres under false promises of education, employment and better living conditions.

He noted that traffickers often prey on vulnerable and underprivileged persons, while common forms of trafficking include sexual exploitation, child domestic servitude, forced labour and the illegal adoption of children for exploitative purposes.

The stakeholders called for sustained public enlightenment, stronger institutional collaboration and stricter enforcement of anti-trafficking laws to protect vulnerable persons and dismantle trafficking networks operating within and outside the state.