Recorded Trafficking Victims Surge in Zamfara and Borno, NAPTIP Data Show

NAPTIP data covering 2015 to 2025 show a sharp rise in recorded human trafficking victims in Zamfara and Borno. Zamfara’s total rose from two victims in 2015 to 79 in 2025, while Borno’s increased from 10 to 277. Benue recorded 307 victims in 2025, up from 59 in 2015. The figures come from an investigation based on 11 years of agency records obtained through a Freedom of Information request. Edo recorded 150 victims in 2025, a 57 per cent drop from its 2017 peak, but still had the highest cumulative total over the period, with more than 1,700 cases. NAPTIP’s figures reflect identified victims and may not capture the full scale of trafficking. They also count victims by their state of origin, not necessarily where they were exploited. The data recorded 2,584 victims nationwide in 2025, alongside 1,330 investigations, 82 prosecutions and 77 convictions. The investigation also reported changes in trafficking destinations and methods, while noting that the records do not establish a direct link between rising figures in particular states and factors such as illegal mining or conflict.

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