The Federal Government has sounded an urgent warning about a disturbing rise in cyber-slavery cases across West Africa, with young Nigerians increasingly trapped in scam operations disguised as job offers.
Describing the situation, foreign affairs minister, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, said, “Many young Nigerians, including underage teenagers, are being lured out of the country with false promises of lucrative employment opportunities abroad, particularly in crypto-related operations,” he said.
The government’s concerns follow a pattern of exploitation where Nigerians, after being enticed with attractive offers, are trafficked into high-tech scam centres—often referred to as “419 cyber-scam factories.”
According to Tuggar, “there, under coercive and inhumane conditions, they are compelled to send thousands of fraudulent emails, text messages, and calls aimed at defrauding victims worldwide.”
I find it especially troubling that such operations prey on the most vulnerable, ambitious youths who see these opportunities as a way out of poverty but instead end up as slaves in foreign lands.
The Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) in Accra, Ghana, recently uncovered one such network. A group of Nigerians was rescued from a grim cybercrime hub where they had been subjected to severe exploitation.
Tuggar described the incident as a clear example of the scale of abuse involved in these criminal enterprises. “This incident highlights the severe exploitation and abuse associated with cybercrime operations. It also underscored the urgent need for enhanced efforts to dismantle these multibillion-dollar criminal networks and reduce the vulnerability of potential victims,” he said.
The risks brought about by cyber-slavery are real, and the dangers are growing. Tuggar called on all Nigerians, especially young people and parents, to be extremely cautious when offered jobs promising easy money, travel abroad, or remote crypto work.
“Nigerians are therefore advised to verify all employment offers through official channels and report suspicious cases to relevant authorities for necessary investigation and action to curtail the activities of the perpetrators,” he urged.
The ministry also reassured citizens that steps are being taken. Tuggar said: “As a precautionary measure, the government is working closely with regional partners, law enforcement agencies, and international organisations to tackle this heinous crime, rescue victims, and bring perpetrators to justice.”
What’s particularly alarming is that this warning arrives just days after the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in the United States revealed that nearly $65 million was lost over the past two years due to financially motivated sextortion crimes, allegedly linked to Nigerian nationals.
Offenders had threatened to release compromising photos unless victims paid up—often using gift cards, mobile payments, wire transfers, or cryptocurrency.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs insists it will not look away. It promises to defend Nigerian citizens wherever they are and to continue raising awareness about new threats to their safety and dignity.
Not all that glitters abroad is gold.
