The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) has arrested five suspected human traffickers and rescued 24 young victims aged 15 to 26 who were en route to exploitative conditions in conflict-ridden Middle Eastern countries.
The raid, prompted by intelligence tips, exposed a sinister network preying on vulnerable Nigerians, including a shocking case where a retired senior law enforcement officer allegedly trafficked his own daughter.
The operation, which unfolded on Tuesday, at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport targeted a trafficking syndicate that had turned the bustling Abuja airport into a "comfort zone" for illicit activities.
Victims, hailing from states like Kano, Katsina, Oyo, Ondo, and Rivers, were being funneled to destinations including Iraq, Sudan, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and Afghanistan—nations notorious for labor abuses and instability.
Many victims spoke only local dialects and were unaware of their true fates, having been lured with false promises of lucrative jobs in Europe or safe havens abroad.
NAPTIP Director General Binta Bello, who personally oversaw the raid and counseled the survivors, described the outcome as a resounding success in disrupting a dangerous pipeline of exploitation.
"I am impressed with the outcome of the operation today because we were able to arrest five suspected members of the trafficking gang that have been recruiting and trafficking our citizens to various tension-soaked countries, especially in the Middle East, for exploitation," Bello stated.
She highlighted the agency's shift in focus to airports, motor parks, and coastal waterways, following a directive she issued months ago amid surging trafficking reports.
Among the arrested was a retired senior officer from a prominent Nigerian law enforcement agency, accused of being a linchpin in a Southwest-based syndicate.
In a particularly heartbreaking revelation, Bello recounted the case of his daughter, one of the rescued victims: "I was amazed that a father, who is a retired Law Enforcement Officer of senior Cadre, deceived his daughter and packaged her to be trafficked to Iraq for exploitation. This is incredibly unbelievable. Well, all of them will be thoroughly investigated, and they will face the law."
The victims' stories painted a grim picture of deception and desperation. One teenage girl tearfully shared, “They told my mother that they are taking me to Europe, where I will work and earn dollars. My parents were happy and they allowed me to follow them.”
Another, the deceived daughter, broke down while viewing NAPTIP-provided videos of abused compatriots abroad:
“I struggled to hold my emotions while watching the video of those girls who were being maltreated and beaten by the traffickers. If that is what awaits me there, I will not go. I am seriously annoyed with my father because he deceived me. My father told me that his friend has a job for me at a supermarket in Baghdad. He did not tell me that it is in Iraq... I thank DG and her officers for rescuing me. Please, I just need my passport; I want to go back to my town and settle. I will certainly make it here rather than suffer in another country.”
"Human trafficking is a visible national concern, and we all must be on the same page to turn the heat on the traffickers. Our resolve to ensure the protection of Nigerians from all forms of exploitation is firm and resolute," she affirmed.
The agency lauded collaborators, including the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, Department of State Services, immigration officials, and airline operators, for their pivotal support.
This bust is part of NAPTIP's escalated campaign against a scourge that has ensnared thousands of Nigerians annually, often under the guise of economic opportunity.
The suspects face prosecution under Nigeria's anti-trafficking laws, while the rescued victims will receive counseling, rehabilitation, and family reunification support through NAPTIP's centers.
Bello vowed to intensify airport surveillance: “We observed that the Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport is becoming a comfort zone for these traffickers, and that is why we have decided to shift attention to this airport. We will sustain this raid until they stop this unpatriotic and illicit trade in human beings.”
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