Nigeria says it has rescued, rehabilitated and reintegrated more than 5,400 human trafficking victims over three years, while securing 26 convictions. Nigeria’s ambassador to Austria and permanent representative to international organisations in Vienna, Fatima Ajimobi, disclosed this on Tuesday.

Ms Ajimobi addressed the 13th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organised Crime (UNTOC) in Vienna. She said Nigeria remained concerned about trafficking in persons, migrant smuggling, illicit firearms, environmental crimes and terrorism.

Meanwhile, the United States Department of State disclosed that the Nigerian government assisted only 675 of the 2,004 victims of human trafficking in one year, despite allocating N233 million for victim services.

The ambassador explained that these interconnected threats continued to undermine national security, weaken institutions and threaten development despite international efforts. According to her, Nigeria’s anti-trafficking efforts included nationwide awareness campaigns, improved operating procedures and stronger protection for victims.

She said the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons had recorded significant achievements during the past three years. These included the rescue, rehabilitation and reintegration of more than 5,400 trafficking victims and 597 survivors of violence against persons.

Ms Ajimobi also disclosed that 168 persons had been investigated and prosecuted, resulting in 26 convictions during the period under review. The envoy highlighted Nigeria’s National Strategy for Combating Organised Crime, covering 2027 to 2031, which she said was launched in August.

She explained that the strategy adopted a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach to preventing, detecting, investigating and prosecuting organised crime. Ms Ajimobi said criminal networks were increasingly exploiting legitimate travel channels and irregular border crossings to facilitate migrant smuggling.

She highlighted intelligence-led border-security measures introduced in 2025 to improve early detection of suspicious activities at international terminals.

Ms Ajimobi also identified illicit firearms trafficking as a major contributor to organised crime and cross-border insecurity. She said Nigeria was strengthening regional cooperation to trace weapons, identify trafficking routes and disrupt the financial networks supporting criminal syndicates.

Turning to environmental crimes, Ms Ajimobi identified illegal mining, illicit mineral trafficking, crude oil theft, illegal logging and wildlife crime as growing concerns. She said these activities required stronger international cooperation, technology transfer and sustained technical assistance, particularly for developing countries.

The envoy also warned that criminal networks were increasingly exploiting information and communication technologies, creating new challenges for investigators and prosecutors. She consequently called for improved digital forensics, electronic evidence-sharing, mutual legal assistance, extradition cooperation and joint investigations.

Ms Ajimobi reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to implementing UNTOC and its protocols, while urging countries to strengthen accountability, protect victims and dismantle transnational criminal networks.

(NAN)