Korede Abdullah 
LAGOS, Nigeria – Nigeria’s anti-trafficking agency secures 93 convictions in 2025 and rescues more than 120 trafficked children, intensifying its crackdown on human trafficking networks, officials say.
The Director-General of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), Binta Bello, discloses the figures in a statement released on Monday by the agency’s National Press Officer, Vincent Adekoye.
Bello says the agency also intercepts over 2,500 potential victims who are deceived, recruited or trafficked for exploitation within and outside the country.
“The year 2025 was unpleasant for human traffickers in Nigeria,” Bello says. “We outsmarted the traffickers and their antics, and this resulted in the impressive number of convictions we recorded.”
She describes the 93 convictions as a significant achievement, noting that offenders include operators of orphanages and care homes engaged in illegal practices.
According to Bello, NAPTIP rescues more than 120 trafficked children and facilitates the repatriation of over 370 Nigerian victims from countries such as Ghana, Senegal and Côte d’Ivoire through collaboration with international partners.
The agency says intensified surveillance, intelligence sharing and prosecution efforts contribute to the results.
Looking ahead, Bello warns traffickers to expect tougher resistance in 2026 as NAPTIP strengthens its operational strategies.
“A real hard time awaits them in 2026,” she says. “We have deliberately scaled up our operations to address evolving trafficking trends.”
She adds that the agency has already secured three convictions early in 2026, reaffirming NAPTIP’s resolve to dismantle trafficking networks nationwide.
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Juliet Jacob 
