Operatives of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) have busted a notorious human trafficking syndicate in Abuja, arresting eight suspects and rescuing 29 foreign victims.
The raid, which took place at a popular apartment in Gwagwalada, followed an intelligence tip-off from the Ghanaian Embassy in Nigeria. The victims, mainly young women, were allegedly trafficked from different West African countries for sexual exploitation and cybercrime activities.
According to NAPTIP, the syndicate had tricked a Ghanaian national with false promises of job opportunities in Nigeria, defrauded him of $3,500, and confiscated his passport upon arrival in the country.
Following the embassy’s report, NAPTIP operatives stormed the Gwagwalada hideout where they apprehended the suspects and rescued the victims—20 females aged between 17 and 28, and nine males aged between 18 and 30. Items including international passports, mobile phones, SIM cards, and financial transaction records were also recovered.
The development came barely days after the agency intercepted another trafficking attempt in Abuja involving 25 women en route to Saudi Arabia for domestic servitude.
NAPTIP’s Director-General, Binta Adamu Bello, described the operation as a major breakthrough against cross-border trafficking cartels.
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.”
Bello warned that Nigeria will remain a hostile ground for human traffickers.
“The suspects will face the full wrath of the law. We shall continue to disrupt their operations, rescue victims, and dismantle their networks,” she vowed.
The rescued victims are currently receiving care in NAPTIP’s protective shelter while discussions are ongoing with relevant diplomatic missions regarding their repatriation.
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