The Federal Government has raised serious concerns over the increasing cases of cyber slavery across parts of West Africa, where young Nigerians are being lured and forced into criminal cyber activities under inhumane conditions.
In a statement released on Sunday by Kimiebi Imomotimi Ebienfa, spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, it was revealed that many Nigerian youths, including underage teenagers, are being deceived with promises of lucrative employment abroad, particularly within the cryptocurrency sector, only to be trafficked into exploitative scam operations.
The ministry described the situation as a “grave concern,” warning that victims are coerced into working in “419 cyber-scam factories” — criminal call centres where they are forced to send thousands of fraudulent messages, emails, and calls to defraud individuals worldwide.
Highlighting a recent case, the ministry cited the intervention of the Economic and Organised Crimes Office (EOCO) in Accra, Ghana, which rescued and detained a group of Nigerians subjected to cybercrime activities under harsh conditions. “This incident highlights the severe exploitation and abuse associated with cybercrime operations,” the ministry noted.
The government has strongly advised Nigerian youths and their parents to exercise extreme caution regarding job offers that promise easy money, overseas travel, or crypto-related remote work. Citizens are urged to verify employment opportunities through official channels and to report any suspicious activities to the relevant authorities for investigation.
As a proactive measure, the Federal Government announced it is collaborating with regional partners, law enforcement agencies, and international organisations to combat these criminal networks, rescue victims, and prosecute perpetrators.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs reaffirmed its commitment to protecting Nigerian citizens both at home and abroad, pledging continued efforts to raise awareness about emerging threats to the safety and dignity of Nigerians.
This alarming development follows reports by the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) that revealed nearly $65 million was lost to financially motivated sextortion crimes over the past two years, many of which were allegedly perpetrated by Nigerian nationals.
