Victoria Mbangwa
Nigeria has called for a unified international response to combat cyber-enabled human trafficking and illegal migration, emphasizing the urgent need for stronger digital accountability measures.
Speaking at the Border Security Summit in London, Minister of Interior Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo highlighted how criminal syndicates exploit digital platforms to recruit and traffic vulnerable individuals. The event, hosted by UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, brought together global leaders to discuss solutions to organized immigration crimes.
Tunji-Ojo stressed that technology has expanded the reach of traffickers, making digital platforms powerful tools for illegal recruitment. He called on big tech companies to take greater responsibility in preventing their platforms from being misused for human smuggling and irregular migration.
“Organised criminal networks are weaponised digital platforms to facilitate irregular migration, human trafficking and other forms of transnational crime” he said, “Technology has enabled these groups to expand their reach, target vulnerable populations and evade law enforcement agencies, hence the need for international organisations to prioritise digital intelligence sharing.”
Nigeria is advocating for globally harmonized laws that define and penalize online human trafficking, along with agreements that enable the swift prosecution of cyber-criminals operating across multiple jurisdictions.
Under President Bola Tinubu’s leadership, Nigeria has intensified efforts to disrupt online criminal networks linked to human trafficking. The government is integrating advanced cyber tools into law enforcement operations, while the Cybercrime Prohibition Prevention Act and the Trafficking in Persons Prohibition Enforcement and Registration Act provide a strong legal foundation for prosecution.
Additionally, Nigeria is investing in cyber-forensic training for security agencies to track and neutralize digital recruitment networks. Public awareness campaigns are also being expanded to educate young people on the dangers of online trafficking.
“Government must commit to a global framework for digital accountability, ensuring that criminal syndicates do not exploit the gaps in online governance,” Tunji-Ojo concluded, urging international organizations to prioritize intelligence-sharing and cross-border cooperation.
As the global migration crisis evolves, Nigeria’s push for stricter digital regulations signals a crucial step in tackling one of the biggest challenges of modern border security.
