Laraba MUREY
In a joint sting operation, the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons, NAPTIP, and the Defence Intelligence Agency, DIA, have busted a human trafficking syndicate and rescued 21 victims.
The coordinated raids took place in Abuja, Osun, and Nasarawa states, leading to the arrest of three suspects and the rescue of 20 foreign nationals trafficked into Nigeria from Equatorial Guinea and Togo for forced labour.
NAPTIP’s Director-General, Binta Bello said,
“This is just the beginning of our planned onslaught on these criminals they lure victims with fake job promises and end up exploiting them here in Nigeria.”
The victims said they were promised high-paying jobs and help to travel to Europe but ended up being used for various forms of hard labour once they arrived in Nigeria.
In a related case, NAPTIP also rescued a Nigerian woman trafficked to Senegal. She had been tricked with a job offer as a hair stylist but was later forced into prostitution. When she refused, her trafficker identified as “Madam Rose” seized her passport and threw her out, leaving her stranded in a remote village.
“She was left in Kidira, Senegal, without food, shelter or means to return,” Bello said. “She was mentally tormented and feared for her life.”
NAPTIP, with help from the Nigerian Embassy in Dakar and the Immigration Service, quickly arranged her rescue and return. The agency says a manhunt is now underway for Madam Rose.
“She’s lucky to be alive. She’s a graduate, a mother, and was simply looking for better opportunities. We must keep fighting these heartless traffickers,” Bello added.
The DG praised the support from the Chief of Defence Intelligence, Major General Emmanuel Undiandeye, and the Office of the National Security Adviser, ONSA, for making the rescue possible.
NAPTIP confirmed that the total number of victims rescued this past week now stands at 21
