Thirty-nine overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) from Lagos, Nigeria, who were victimized by human trafficking syndicates, have successfully returned home.
According to the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW), the repatriated OFWs arrived at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3 in Pasay City on August 18, 2025, via flight QR932.
Meanwhile, one of the victims, a young mother who recently gave birth while in detention, will remain in Lagos until she fully recovers and is cleared to travel with her infant.
The OFWs were among those arrested during a large-scale Nigerian government raid in December 2024 against cryptocurrency and love scam operations. They had been lured with false promises of legitimate jobs as customer service representatives with a supposed monthly salary of USD 1,000 and free accommodation. However, they were later forced into cyber scams, their passports were confiscated, and they endured threats and exploitative working conditions.
With the assistance of the Philippine Embassy in Abuja and the Honorary Consulate in Lagos, the victims entered into plea bargaining to expedite their release. Their repatriation was made possible following the visit of DMW officials and the Philippine Embassy in Nigeria on August 17.
The repatriated OFWs were welcomed by DMW Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac, together with House Committee on Overseas Workers Affairs Chairperson Rep. Bryan Revilla and representatives of other government agencies.
Secretary Cacdac reiterated the government’s commitment to reintegrate the victims back into their communities. Each received ₱50,000 in financial assistance from the DMW’s AKSYON Fund, temporary accommodation from OWWA, as well as immediate medical and psychosocial support. They will also be referred to their respective local government units for additional assistance.
“Utos ng ating Pangulong Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. na makapagpanimula kayong muli at tungkulin namin sa DMW na paigtingin ang inyong mga tibay at lakas ng loob upang makapagsimulang muli,” Cacdac said.
Rep. Revilla, meanwhile, stressed the government’s resolve to safeguard OFWs. “We will do what we need to do in the House of Representatives upang masiguro na maproteksyunan at mapangalagaan ang inyong mga karapatan,” he said.
In a separate statement, the DMW warned the public against face-to-face and online schemes of illegal recruiters and human traffickers.
DMW Assistant Secretary Jerome Alcantara said common red flags include “too good to be true” job offers, backdoor exit points, fake employment documents, and other suspicious recruitment tactics.
From July 31 to August 9, the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking reported that 120 distressed overseas Filipinos trafficked in Laos, Myanmar, and Cambodia were safely repatriated.
The DMW also announced plans to open a Migrant Workers Office in Abuja, Nigeria to speed up labor assistance, provide legal and welfare support, and improve coordination with host governments and employers.
