The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) has intensified its crackdown on human trafficking syndicates, arresting eight suspected traffickers and rescuing 29 victims, most of them foreign nationals during a major operation in Abuja.
The operation, carried out at a popular apartment in a remote area of Gwagwalada, followed an intelligence report from a foreign embassy in Abuja. According to NAPTIP, the suspects belong to a transnational syndicate operating between Nigeria and Ghana, exploiting victims for sexual and cyber-related crimes.
The agency revealed that the intelligence was first provided by the Ghanaian Embassy, which alerted Nigerian authorities to the plight of a Ghanaian victim allegedly trafficked under false pretenses. The victim, officials said, had been defrauded of $3,500 by the syndicate, lured with the promise of legitimate opportunities in Nigeria, and stripped of his passport and personal belongings upon arrival.
The tip-off prompted swift operational action by NAPTIP, leading to the arrest of the eight suspects. Preliminary investigations indicate that the rescued victims comprising 20 women aged 17 to 28 and nine men aged 18 to 30 were trafficked into Nigeria for exploitation. Many of their temporary permits had expired, leaving them vulnerable to abuse by the network.
During the raid, NAPTIP operatives recovered passports, mobile phones, SIM cards, and financial records believed to be linked to the trafficking activities. The victims are currently receiving protection and support in a safe shelter, while diplomatic engagements are underway to repatriate the foreign nationals.
Director-General of NAPTIP, Binta Adamu Bello condemned the syndicate’s operations and warned traffickers that Nigeria will remain unsafe for their illicit trade.
“This case highlights the transnational dimension of human trafficking and the vulnerabilities of individuals seeking better opportunities across borders,” she said. “The swift intervention by the Agency, in collaboration with the Ghanaian Embassy, demonstrates the importance of timely intelligence sharing and coordinated law enforcement response.”
Bello reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to dismantling trafficking networks and ensuring justice for victims, adding:
“The suspects in this case will face the full wrath of the law. We will continue to disrupt their operations, rescue victims, and prosecute perpetrators. Nigeria will remain tough for traffickers to operate.”
The latest operation comes just days after NAPTIP disrupted another trafficking scheme in Abuja, rescuing 25 women en route to Saudi Arabia for forced domestic labour.