ANEEJ STATEMENT TO COMMEMORATE THE 2026 WORLD DAY AGAINST TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS

Theme: “Trapped Behind the Scam”

Every year on 30 July, the global community marks the World Day Against Trafficking in Persons to raise awareness about the crime of human trafficking, promote the protection of victims, and strengthen collective action to prevent and combat trafficking in persons.

The 2026 global theme, “Trapped Behind the Scam,” draws attention to the growing exploitation of victims through online scams and cyber-enabled criminal activities. Across the world, criminal syndicates are increasingly recruiting, transporting, deceiving and coercing vulnerable people into participating in internet fraud, cryptocurrency scams, identity theft and other digital crimes. Behind many fraudulent online job advertisements and fake migration opportunities are organized criminal networks that exploit desperate job seekers and migrants.

Nigeria remains one of the countries significantly affected by human trafficking. Thousands of Nigerians—particularly women, girls and unemployed young people—continue to be trafficked within the country and across borders for sexual exploitation, forced labour, domestic servitude, forced begging, organ trafficking and increasingly, cyber-enabled criminality. According to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), Nigeria remains an important country of origin, transit and destination for trafficking in persons, while the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) continues to rescue hundreds of victims and prosecute traffickers every year.

For decades, Edo State, with Benin City as its capital, has remained one of Nigeria’s most prominent trafficking hotspots. Although significant progress has been made through sustained government interventions (Establishment of the Edo State Migration Agency), community engagement, international partnerships and increased public awareness, trafficking networks continue to evolve. Recruiters now increasingly use social media platforms, messaging applications and fake overseas employment opportunities to deceive young people seeking better economic prospects.

This year’s campaign calls for stronger international cooperation to identify and protect victims, prosecute traffickers, strengthen digital investigations, disrupt cyber-enabled criminal enterprises and enhance cross-border judicial and law enforcement collaboration to dismantle organized criminal networks.

The Africa Network for Environment and Economic Justice (ANEEJ) joins governments, civil society organizations, development partners, survivors, communities and citizens worldwide in commemorating the 2026 World Day Against Trafficking in Persons. We reaffirm our commitment to preventing trafficking in persons, protecting survivors, promoting accountability, strengthening governance and disrupting the illicit financial flows that sustain trafficking and other forms of transnational organized crime.

Over the years, ANEEJ has expanded its work in addressing organized crime by implementing interventions that tackle human trafficking, irregular migration, cyber-enabled crime and illicit financial flows. Recognizing that these crimes are interconnected, our approach addresses both their root causes and their financial drivers.

Through programmes supported by the UK Home Office, the Embassy of Switzerland in Nigeria, and the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime (GI-TOC), ANEEJ has developed substantial expertise in preventing human trafficking and irregular migration, strengthening community resilience and creating sustainable economic opportunities for vulnerable populations.

Our interventions have focused particularly on Edo State, where Benin City has historically been at the centre of migration and trafficking routes. Working closely with government agencies, community leaders, youth groups and civil society organizations, ANEEJ has promoted public awareness, psychosocial support, livelihood development, skills acquisition and economic empowerment for vulnerable young people, returnees and survivors of trafficking.

The emergence of online scam compounds and cyber-enabled trafficking presents a new and dangerous dimension to organized crime. Increasingly, victims are lured with promises of legitimate employment, educational opportunities and overseas migration only to find themselves trapped in criminal operations where they are forced to commit online fraud under threats, intimidation and violence. This evolving pattern demonstrates the urgent need to strengthen digital literacy, cybercrime prevention, financial investigations and victim identification mechanisms.

ANEEJ has also expanded its interventions beyond awareness creation by supporting survivor reintegration, community resilience and collaboration among government institutions, law enforcement agencies, civil society organizations and local communities. Our work promotes victim-centred approaches that prioritize dignity, recovery and sustainable reintegration.

Our research on the corruption–migration nexus further demonstrates that poverty, unemployment, corruption, weak governance, insecurity, poor access to education and limited economic opportunities continue to increase the vulnerability of many Nigerians to trafficking and irregular migration. Unless these structural drivers are addressed, criminal networks will continue to exploit vulnerable populations.

The recent UNODC report on Tracking Illicit Financial Flows Linked to Human Trafficking and Migrant Smuggling reinforces what ANEEJ has consistently advocated: trafficking is not only a grave human rights violation but also a highly profitable business driven by sophisticated financial networks. Following the money is therefore critical to dismantling trafficking syndicates and preventing criminals from profiting from human exploitation.

This aligns with ANEEJ’s broader work on combating Illicit Financial Flows (IFFs), which continue to deprive Nigeria of resources needed for quality education, healthcare, infrastructure, job creation and social protection. IFFs fuel corruption, weaken institutions, undermine public trust, finance organized crime and impede sustainable development.

In June and July 2026, ANEEJ further strengthened its response by building the capacity of civil society organizations and journalists to combat illicit financial flows through investigative reporting, evidence-based advocacy, policy engagement and public accountability. These initiatives strengthen transparency and help expose the financial systems that enable trafficking, cybercrime, corruption and migrant smuggling.

As Benin City continues its transition from being known primarily as a trafficking hotspot to becoming a centre of resilience, prevention and survivor empowerment, sustained investment in education, youth employment, digital skills, entrepreneurship and community development remains essential. Young people must be provided with genuine opportunities that reduce their vulnerability to traffickers and online criminal recruiters.

ANEEJ believes that an effective response to trafficking requires a comprehensive approach that integrates prevention, victim protection, economic empowerment, anti-corruption reforms, good governance, digital security, financial intelligence and international cooperation. Only by addressing both the social and financial dimensions of organized crime can sustainable progress be achieved.

As we commemorate the 2026 World Day Against Trafficking in Persons under the theme “Trapped Behind the Scam,” ANEEJ calls on the Federal Government of Nigeria, the Edo State Government, NAPTIP, the Nigeria Police Force, the Nigeria Immigration Service, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Nigeria Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU), the National Cybercrime Centre, international partners, civil society organizations, traditional institutions, faith-based organizations, the media, educational institutions and the private sector to strengthen collective action against trafficking in persons.

We particularly urge stakeholders to:

• Strengthen digital awareness campaigns targeting young people and job seekers.
• Improve victim identification, protection and rehabilitation services.
• Expand youth employment and entrepreneurship programmes in vulnerable communities.
• Strengthen prosecution of traffickers and online criminal networks.
• Enhance cross-border cooperation and intelligence sharing.
• Trace, freeze and recover illicit proceeds derived from trafficking.
• Invest in community resilience and survivor-led prevention initiatives.

Together, we can expose the scams, protect vulnerable people, follow the money, dismantle trafficking networks and build a Nigeria where every individual can pursue opportunity with dignity, safety and hope.

For more information, please contact: 09069725955 or info@aneej.org and follow us on Instagram and facebook: @aneejnigriaaneej__nigeria and facebook.com/aneejnigeria