Human trafficking networks continue to adapt, employing sophisticated tactics of deceit and false promises to trap unsuspecting victims into modern slavery. However, the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) is stepping up its vigilance to combat this menace.
In a decisive operation, NAPTIP successfully intercepted 13 Nigerian women at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja. These women, aged 19 to 39, were en route to Baghdad, Iraq, where they faced the grim prospect of sexual and labor exploitation. Acting on intelligence from concerned citizens who detected unusual activities at the airport, NAPTIP operatives swiftly intervened, averting a potential human trafficking tragedy.
Investigations revealed that the victims had been lured by unregistered labor agents operating between Nigeria and the Middle East. These agents baited the women with enticing but fraudulent promises of well-paying jobs abroad.
This incident underscores the rising threat posed by illegal recruitment syndicates preying on vulnerable Nigerians. NAPTIP has expressed profound concern over the increasing sophistication of traffickers and the grave dangers their victims face.
In a separate crackdown, the agency rescued 11 underage girls from a popular hotel in Kwali, Abuja, where they were being sexually exploited. The hotel has since been sealed, and its owner apprehended, although several staff members fled before they could be detained.
NAPTIP’s Director General, Binta Adamu Bello, condemned the exploitative practices of traffickers, highlighting the bleak realities many victims endure abroad. “Many of them are deceived into thinking they’ll find greener pastures, only to end up in dire conditions. Some return empty-handed, others with life-altering injuries,” she said.
Reaffirming the agency’s commitment to protecting Nigerian citizens, Bello called for greater vigilance among parents and communities. She also stressed the importance of labor recruiters obtaining proper clearance certificates to ensure transparency and prevent exploitation.
“NAPTIP will not relent in tracking down and dismantling these criminal syndicates,” Bello vowed. “We must safeguard our citizens from these perilous traps.”
As the agency intensifies its crackdown on human trafficking, it also urges Nigerians to stay informed and report suspicious activities to authorities. Through collective action, the fight against human trafficking can be won.
