The United States government has raised fresh concerns over human trafficking in Nigeria, accusing authorities of failing to adequately address alleged official complicity, protect victims and prosecute public officials suspected of involvement in trafficking-related crimes.
The concerns are contained in the 2026 Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report released by the US Department of State. The report also lists Nigeria among 14 countries associated with the recruitment and use of child soldiers.
The assessment covers the period from April 1, 2025, to March 31, 2026, and highlights persistent challenges in protecting vulnerable people despite improvements in investigations and convictions.
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The US retained Nigeria on Tier 2 of its trafficking classification. The category covers countries whose governments do not fully meet the minimum standards for eliminating human trafficking but are making significant efforts to address the problem.
However, the report identified corruption and the alleged involvement of public officials as major obstacles to tackling trafficking offences.
It faulted the Nigerian government for failing to report investigations, prosecutions or convictions of government employees allegedly involved in trafficking during the reporting period.
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The assessment also raised concerns about the absence of detailed information on action taken against officials implicated in previous cases.
Nigeria’s inclusion on the Child Soldiers Prevention Act list places it alongside 13 other countries, including Afghanistan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen.
According to the report, Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) continue to recruit, abduct and use children, including those as young as 12.
The children are allegedly deployed in various roles, including cooking, carrying supplies, gathering intelligence, guarding checkpoints and participating in combat operations. Some are also forced into roles associated with suicide bombings.
The designation could trigger restrictions on certain forms of US military assistance, training and arms-related support from October 1, 2026, unless a presidential waiver applies.
The report also highlighted the activities of illegal facilities commonly known as baby factories, which criminal operators reportedly disguise as orphanages, maternity homes or religious centres.
According to the assessment, women are sometimes held against their will, sexually abused and forced to become pregnant and deliver babies who are subsequently sold.
The report described the practice as a widespread criminal problem, particularly in southern Nigeria.
It also identified other forms of exploitation, including forced labour in agriculture, mining, domestic work, begging and street trading.
The US assessment questioned the level of support available to people rescued from trafficking networks.
It reported that 675 trafficking victims received assistance in 2025, compared with 2,058 in the preceding year. Services for male survivors remained limited, with only one dedicated non-governmental shelter for adult male victims identified during the reporting period.
The report also raised concerns about the treatment of women and girls affected by Boko Haram-related violence, including cases in which victims of forced marriage were reportedly coerced into returning to their insurgent husbands at demobilisation centres in Borno State.
Despite the criticism, the report acknowledged improvements in Nigeria’s anti-trafficking efforts.
Authorities investigated 1,341 trafficking cases involving 1,367 suspects in 2025, prosecuted 94 suspects and secured 97 convictions.
The figures represented an increase from 744 investigations, 71 prosecutions and 49 convictions recorded in 2024.
The report also stated that government funding for victim services rose to N233 million in 2025, compared with N128 million the previous year. Funding for prevention increased to N245 million from N58.8 million.
Other reported efforts included identifying 2,004 victims, coordinating the repatriation of 428 Nigerians exploited abroad and maintaining anti-trafficking task forces in 23 states.
The findings present a mixed picture of Nigeria’s response: increased enforcement activity alongside continuing concerns about official accountability, child recruitment and victim protection.
