A Nigerian-Australian woman, Binta Abubakar, has been arrested and charged with multiple human trafficking offences in Australia after allegedly luring students from Papua New Guinea (PNG) with fake scholarships and forcing them into unpaid farm labour.
The Australian Federal Police (AFP) confirmed that the 56-year-old was apprehended on Wednesday, June 11, at Brisbane Airport following her return from Papua New Guinea, where she was primarily based. Abubakar now faces 31 criminal charges, including trafficking in persons, deceptive recruitment, and debt bondage.
Fake Scholarships, Forced Labour
According to authorities, Abubakar operated a business known as BIN Educational Services and Consulting, which falsely promised full educational scholarships and job opportunities in Australia to vulnerable PNG nationals. The company’s website advertised a “holistic and modern approach to education, training, and employment,” but police investigations revealed a disturbing human trafficking scheme behind the facade.
The AFP’s Northern Command Human Trafficking Team launched a two-year investigation into Abubakar’s activities in July 2022 after receiving a tip-off from Queensland Police.
Between March 2021 and July 2023, Abubakar allegedly recruited at least 15 Papua New Guinean students, aged 19 to 35, and trafficked them to Australia under the guise of pursuing higher education. However, upon arrival, the victims were allegedly forced to sign documents indebting them for tuition, travel, visa, and legal costs.
To repay these fabricated debts, they were coerced into working long hours on fruit farms in Queensland, particularly in Lockyer Valley and Stanthorpe, in breach of their visa conditions. Reports claim they worked up to 10 hours a day, seven days a week, with their wages allegedly collected and withheld by Abubakar.
Threats, Intimidation, and Exploitation
The AFP stated that when victims resisted or refused to comply, Abubakar would allegedly threaten to report them to immigration authorities or intimidate their families in PNG. Farmers who employed the students reportedly had no knowledge of the exploitation scheme.
AFP Detective Superintendent Adrian Telfer condemned the exploitation, saying:
“The AFP is committed to protecting vulnerable foreign workers who are targeted by those driven by greed and profits. These victims came to Australia with hopes of a better future, only to find themselves trapped in a nightmare.”
He added that victims of human trafficking and debt bondage often arrive in Australia chasing dreams of education or employment, only to end up in exploitative conditions with little financial, emotional, or legal support.
Legal Proceedings
Abubakar was granted conditional bail and is scheduled to reappear in court on September 19. Authorities are continuing investigations, and further charges could follow as more victims are identified.
