The United States Department of State has accused the Nigerian government of not doing enough to protect victims of Boko Haram terrorists and human traffickers.
In its 2025 Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report published on its website on Wednesday, the U.S. agency stated that the Nigerian government did not meet the minimum standards in several key areas in its fight against trafficking in persons, which means that the country remains on Tier 2 classification.
“Efforts to identify and protect trafficking victims among vulnerable populations, especially women and children allegedly associated with non-state armed groups, IDPs, and children exploited in begging and domestic work, were inadequate,” the agency reported.
According to the report, due to insufficient screening efforts, the Nigerian government and Borno State government did not take effective measures to prevent the re-victimisation or inappropriate penalisation of potential victims solely for unlawful acts committed as a direct result of being trafficked, including among women and girls allegedly associated with Boko Haram.
“In some cases, authorities detained or returned victims to their Boko Haram husbands and traffickers.
“Corruption and official complicity in trafficking crimes, including among designated officials with responsibilities to combat human trafficking, remained significant concerns, inhibiting law enforcement action and perpetuating impunity for trafficking crimes.
“The High Courts had jurisdiction over trafficking cases; however, in practice, cases were sometimes tried in state courts, which heard lower-level or misdemeanour crimes.
“Local judges did not have the same standardised training requirements as federal and state judges, which contributed to corruption and misapplication of the law.
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Illegal activities of non-state armed groups hindered law enforcement efforts, especially in Northern Nigeria,” it added.
The report also revealed that corruption involving trafficking crimes, including among law enforcement officials and the judiciary, remained a significant concern and contributed to impunity for human traffickers in Nigeria.
According to the document, during the year under review, observers reported that some security officers sexually abused and exploited internally displaced persons (IDPs), including children, in and around Maiduguri, the Borno State capital.
While Nigeria remains on the Tier 2 Watchlist — a ranking for countries making “significant efforts” but still falling short — the report noted that women and girls liberated from non-state armed groups in the North-East were often treated as criminals rather than victims.
“In some cases, authorities detained or returned victims to their Boko Haram husbands and traffickers,” the report stated, warning that insufficient screening by security agencies and state authorities in Borno had left vulnerable victims exposed to renewed exploitation.
The report, however, acknowledged that Nigeria had improved prosecution and conviction rates under the Trafficking in Persons Law Enforcement and Administration Act (TIPLEAA).
In 2024, authorities initiated 744 investigations, filed 71 prosecutions, and secured 49 convictions, more than double the number in 2023. Sentences ranged from one to 15 years’ imprisonment.
It also cited increased funding for victim protection —from N50.8 million in 2024 to more than N128 million in 2025 —and greater coordination with NGOs, alongside expanded awareness campaigns.
But endemic corruption within law enforcement and the judiciary, the report said, continued to obstruct justice. Some security personnel, including Immigration and Civilian Joint Task Force operatives, were implicated in trafficking crimes, while NAPTIP staff were previously disciplined for soliciting bribes and leaking case files. It noted that few were ever prosecuted.
Credit: Guardian
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