Internal trafficking is on the rise in Nigeria, according to the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP).
The agency noted that the rate was significantly higher than that of external trafficking.
Fatima Waziri-Azi, the Director-General, spoke on Thursday in Benin at a meeting with stakeholders and partners in Edo.
According to the DG, 83% of trafficking occurs within states and communities, while 12% occurs across borders.
“Simply because the media spotlight on people in Italy and all that, we think we have more of trans-border trafficking.
“No. Internal trafficking is happening before our eyes. Domestic servitude is a crisis in Nigeria, forced labour too”, NAN quoted her saying.
The official declared human trafficking a national crisis that affects every state.
Waziri-Azi added that it is now done online via fake jobs advertorials and fake scholarships.
She said traffickers lure their victims with offers, with Dubai, India, and Cyprus as the trending destinations.
The DG described trafficking as a $150billion criminal enterprise and the second trans-national organised crime after drug trafficking.