The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) will review its counter-trafficking strategies and policies in 2026 to strengthen operations and curb human trafficking across Nigeria.
The commitment was contained in a statement issued in Abuja by NAPTIP’s National Press Officer, Vincent Adekoye and made available to Journalists
The agency’s Director General, Binta Adamu Bello, while reviewing the agency’s performance in 2025 and outlining its strategic priorities for 2026, disclosed that NAPTIP secured 93 convictions of human traffickers last year and intercepted more than 2,500 potential victims who were deceived, recruited and trafficked for various forms of exploitation within and outside Nigeria.
She added that many of the rescued victims were rehabilitated.
According to Bello, the planned review is aimed at enhancing operational effectiveness and tightening enforcement against trafficking networks across the country.
Also Read: NAPTIP Intensifies Fight Against Gender Violence
The statement read in part: “It is worth recalling that, following the directive from the Director General, Binta Adamu Bello, to all Commands to increase monitoring and vigilance, the agency doubled its activities in 2025, resulting in increased interception and rescue, partnership, awareness creation, prosecution, and conviction of offenders.
“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 recorded 93 convictions. This is remarkable, bearing in mind what it takes to prosecute and convict one trafficker.
“In 2025, NAPTIP went after a number of the so-called high-profile traffickers, while scores of them were smoked out of their hiding, arrested, prosecuted and convicted; others are still under close watch. Among the high-profile traffickers were some popular operators of orphanages and care homes across the country whose alleged nefarious activities were busted, and over 120 suspected trafficked children were rescued.
“In the same vein, NAPTIP, in collaboration with international partners and stakeholders, rescued over 370 Nigerian victims of human trafficking from countries such as Ghana, Senegal, Côte d’Ivoire, and others.
“As unpleasant as the year 2025 was for the traffickers, I wish to point out that a real hard time awaits them in the year 2026. We have deliberately scaled up our operations to address the evolving challenges and trends. Specifically, we shall increase our collaboration and cooperation with other sister law enforcement agencies, development partners, civil society organisations, and other categories of stakeholders.”
The Director General further called for increased synergy with actors within the three levels of government, as well as with non-state actors, including the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), to enhance grassroots surveillance and detection of human trafficking.