The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), in collaboration with the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA), has dismantled a transnational organised human trafficking syndicate and arrested three suspects.
According to a statement issued in Abuja by NAPTIP’s Press Officer, Mr Vincent Adekoye, the operation led to the rescue of 20 victims trafficked from Equatorial Guinea and Togo into Nigeria for various forms of labour exploitation.
The suspects are believed to be part of a wider organised criminal network operating within Nigeria. The joint operation, which took place across the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Osun, and Nasarawa states, targeted criminal cells and their leaders.
Adekoye said the arrests followed a directive by the Director-General of NAPTIP, Hajia Binta Adamu-Bello, to increase surveillance across Nigeria’s border communities to disrupt suspected trafficking activities originating from neighbouring countries.
“NAPTIP has intensified collaboration with sister security agencies and development partners to tackle these criminal syndicates,” Adekoye noted.
He added that the rescued victims revealed they had been lured to Nigeria with promises of high-paying jobs but were instead subjected to various forms of labour exploitation. Some had processed documents for onward travel to Europe before being trapped in exploitative conditions.
In a related case, NAPTIP, working with the Nigerian Embassy in Senegal, rescued a middle-aged Nigerian woman from Dakar. The victim, a university graduate and mother of one, had been deceived with the promise of employment as a hairstylist and make-up artist.
Upon arrival in Senegal, she discovered her recruiter, known as ‘Madam Rose’, was involved in child and sex trafficking. When she resisted being forced into prostitution, the trafficker confiscated her documents and abandoned her in Kidira, leaving her stranded, traumatised and at risk.
“She reported that her trafficker is diabolical and has been tormenting her mentally and emotionally, to the point that her sanity is at risk,” Adekoye stated.
The NAPTIP Director-General described the development as a reflection of growing synergy among Nigeria’s security agencies. “This operation targeted criminal elements making Nigeria a hub for human trafficking. It’s only the beginning of our crackdown,” she said. She revealed that traffickers often deceive victims across African countries with promises of legitimate work in Nigeria, only to exploit them upon arrival, confiscating their documents and cutting them off from communication.
The NAPTIP boss thanked the Chief of Defence Intelligence, Maj.-Gen. Emmanuel Undiandeye, for sustained collaboration, as well as the Office of the National Security Adviser for enabling cross-agency coordination.
Adamu-Bello confirmed that the agency is working with law enforcement to apprehend ‘Madam Rose’ and bring her to justice. She expressed appreciation to the Nigerian Immigration Service personnel who assisted in receiving the rescued victim at the border.
According to her, the total number of victims rescued and received from neighbouring countries by NAPTIP within the past week now stands at 21.
