Operatives of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons, NAPTIP, have arrested eight suspected members of a notorious human trafficking syndicate operating between Nigeria and Ghana.
The suspects were arrested during a raid on a popular apartment located in a hidden part of Gwagwalada, a suburb of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Abuja.
Also, the agency intensified its war against human trafficking with the rescue of another 29 victims, mostly foreign nationals from West African countries.
This latest operation, according to Vincent Adekoye, NAPTIP’s Press Officer, follows an earlier rescue mission in Abuja where 25 women were saved from being trafficked to Saudi Arabia for domestic exploitation.
How the human trafficking syndicate was busted
The agency disclosed that NAPTIP’s swift action was triggered by an intelligence report from the Ghanaian Embassy in Abuja when the embassy reported a suspected case of human trafficking involving a Ghanaian national who was lured to Nigeria under false pretences, defrauded of USD 3,500, and subjected to exploitation. Also, his international passport and personal belongings were seized by the traffickers, leaving him stranded and vulnerable.
Following this alert, NAPTIP operatives launched a raid in line with the Agency’s mandate to prevent, suppress, and prosecute human trafficking as provided under national and international legal frameworks.
The operation led to the arrest of eight suspects, all currently in custody undergoing profiling and interrogation. Among the 29 rescued victims were 20 females aged between 17-28 and nine males aged between 18-30, many of whom had overstayed their temporary permits and were allegedly trafficked for sexual exploitation and cybercrime activities.
Recovered items included the primary victim’s international passport, multiple mobile phones, SIM cards, and financial transaction records suspected to be linked to the trafficking activities.
NAPTIP DG vows tougher crackdown on traffickers
Speaking on the operation, the Director General of NAPTIP, Binta Adamu Bello, condemned the syndicate’s activities and reiterated the agency’s unwavering resolve to make Nigeria unsafe for human traffickers.
“This case highlights the transnational dimension of human trafficking and the vulnerabilities of individuals seeking better opportunities across borders,” Bello stated.
“The swift intervention by the Agency, in collaboration with the Ghanaian Embassy, demonstrates the importance of timely intelligence sharing and coordinated law enforcement response.”
Furthermore, she said, “The suspects in this case will face the full wrath of the law, and just like I warned a few weeks ago, the atmosphere in Nigeria will continue to be tough for them to operate.
“We shall continue to disrupt their operations, intercept and rescue the victims, and also prosecute them.”
Bello reaffirmed, “The agency remains committed to its mandate of ensuring justice for victims, dismantling trafficking networks, and strengthening partnerships at both national and internationally levels to eradicate human trafficking.
