Operatives of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) have smashed a human trafficking ring in Abuja, arresting eight suspected members of a notorious syndicate and rescuing 29 foreign victims.
Most of them are foreign nationals. Officials described the operation as a major breakthrough against cross-border traffickers.
The operation was carried out in Gwagwalada, a suburb of the Federal Capital Territory, after a tip-off from the Ghanaian Embassy in Abuja. The mission, according to Vincent Adekoye, NAPTIP, Press Officer, in a statement on Wednesday, exposed a criminal cartel running an elaborate trafficking network between Ghana and Nigeria.
Inside a popular apartment hidden in the community, NAPTIP operatives discovered 20 young women aged between 17 and 28 and nine young men aged between 18 and 30.
Officials said the victims were deceived with promises of jobs and legitimate opportunities, only to be exploited for sexual activities and forced participation in cybercrime schemes.
According to NAPTIP, one of the victims, a Ghanaian national, had raised an alarm through his country’s diplomatic mission after being duped of $3,500 by the traffickers.
The agency said he was lured with promises of lucrative employment, but upon arrival in Nigeria, his passport and belongings were seized, leaving him stranded and vulnerable. His cry for help triggered the embassy’s urgent request to NAPTIP for intervention, in line with existing bilateral cooperation agreements.
The agency confirmed that the passports and personal effects of the victims were recovered during the raid, alongside items believed to be linked to the illegal operations, including mobile phones, SIM cards, and financial transaction records.
Days earlier, NAPTIP intercepted another trafficking arrangement in Abuja involving 25 women being smuggled to Saudi Arabia for domestic servitude.
Binta Adamu Bello, NAPTIP Director-General, said the latest operation demonstrates the resilience of the agency in dismantling trafficking networks and rescuing vulnerable persons, despite the sophistication of criminal syndicates.
She said, “This case highlights the transnational dimension of human trafficking and the vulnerabilities of individuals seeking better opportunities across borders.
“The swift intervention by the Agency, in collaboration with the Ghanaian Embassy, demonstrates the importance of timely intelligence sharing and coordinated law enforcement response.
“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 operation, intercept and rescue the victims, and also prosecute them.”
“The Agency remains committed to its mandate of ensuring justice for victims, dismantling trafficking networks, and strengthening partnerships at both national and international levels to eradicate human trafficking”, Binta Adamu Bello said.
The rescued victims have since been moved to a safe shelter where they are receiving immediate protection and care. NAPTIP said it has begun discussions with relevant diplomatic missions to facilitate the rehabilitation and safe repatriation of the foreign nationals among them.
The eight suspects are currently in custody, undergoing profiling and interrogation. They are expected to be charged in court once investigations are completed.