Hobnob News, Abuja
A coordinated operation between the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) and the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) has led to the arrest of three suspected members of a transnational human trafficking network and the rescue of 20 victims across Nigeria.
The victims, who were trafficked from Equatorial Guinea and Togo to Nigeria for labour exploitation, were recovered in a strategic sting operation conducted in the Federal Capital Territory, Osun, and Nasarawa states.
According to a statement released on Friday by NAPTIP’s Press Officer, Mr. Vincent Adekoye, the suspects are believed to be part of a wider criminal network involved in trafficking and exploitation.
Adekoye explained that the operation followed a directive by NAPTIP Director-General, Hajia Binta Adamu-Bello, to intensify surveillance in border communities and clamp down on trafficking syndicates exploiting porous entry points.
“The agency, in synergy with partner law enforcement bodies, is intensifying efforts to dismantle these networks that deceive and abuse vulnerable individuals,” Adekoye said.
He disclosed that the victims had been lured into Nigeria with promises of high-paying jobs, only to be exploited upon arrival. The victims had already processed documentation for supposed further travel to Europe but were instead subjected to harsh working conditions.
In a related operation, NAPTIP, in collaboration with the Nigerian Embassy in Senegal, successfully rescued a Nigerian woman trafficked to Dakar under the guise of employment as a hair stylist and makeup artist. On arrival in Senegal, she was forced into prostitution and abandoned after resisting.
“Her trafficker, known as ‘Madam Rose’, confiscated her documents and left her stranded in Kidira, Senegal,” Adekoye revealed.
The survivor, a university graduate and single mother, is currently receiving trauma care in Nigeria after being returned through the assistance of the Nigerian Immigration Service and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
NAPTIP Director-General, Hajia Binta Adamu-Bello, commended the synergy among Nigerian law enforcement agencies and international partners, stating that the success of the operation reflects a growing national resolve to end human trafficking.
“This operation marks the beginning of a sustained crackdown on cross-border trafficking networks that have turned Nigeria into a hub for human exploitation,” she said.
Adamu-Bello vowed that all suspects, including ‘Madam Rose’, will be pursued and prosecuted. She expressed appreciation to the Chief of Defence Intelligence, Maj.-Gen. Emmanuel Undiandeye, the Nigerian Immigration Service, and the Office of the National Security Adviser for their critical support in the ongoing anti-trafficking operations.
She also revealed that with the return of the victim from Senegal, the total number of rescued victims from neighbouring countries in the past week has risen to 21.
“This is a clear message to traffickers: Nigeria will not be a safe haven for your crimes. We are committed to protecting and empowering our citizens, and we will bring every perpetrator to justice,” Adamu-Bello stated.
