Nigerian woman arrested in Australia for allegedly trafficking 15 students
By Jeffrey Agbo
A Nigerian-Australian woman, Binta Abubakar, has been arrested in Australia on serious charges related to human trafficking and debt bondage involving 15 nationals from Papua New Guinea (PNG).
The 56-year-old dual citizen was taken into custody by the Australian Federal Police (AFP) on Tuesday, June 11, 2025, at Brisbane Airport after arriving on a flight from PNG.
Her arrest follows a two-year investigation by the AFP’s Northern Command Human Trafficking Team, which began probing her activities in July 2022 after a tip-off from Queensland Police.
According to the AFP, Abubakar allegedly enticed the victims between March 2021 and July 2023 by falsely promising fully funded educational scholarships in Australia. Once in the country, the victims were reportedly coerced into signing agreements requiring them to repay hidden expenses—including tuition fees, airfare, visa costs, and legal charges.
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Investigators allege that the victims were made to work on farms across Queensland, often in breach of their visa conditions. The accused allegedly collected their wages directly and withheld the money under the pretext of recovering the so-called debts.
She now faces a total of 31 charges, including four counts of trafficking in persons, 14 counts of deceptive recruiting for labour or services, and 13 counts of causing a person to enter into debt bondage.
If convicted, Abubakar could face up to 12 years in prison for each trafficking charge, seven years for each count of deceptive recruiting, and four years for each debt bondage offence.
AFP Detective Superintendent Adrian Telfer underscored the seriousness of the case and the agency’s commitment to protecting vulnerable workers from exploitation.
“Victims of debt bondage and other human trafficking offences can be lured to Australia with a promise of a dream career or free education… The AFP can help people who are exploited and is focused on ensuring the welfare of victims,” he said.
