The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) has dismantled a major human trafficking syndicate operating through the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, arresting five suspects and rescuing 24 victims in a dramatic sting operation.
A statement issued by the information officer of NAPTIP Abuja, Vincent Adekoye stated that the operation, led on Wednesday by NAPTIP’s Director-General, Binta Adamu Bello, lasted six hours and stunned unsuspecting travellers at the airport.
Adekoye added that those arrested included a retired senior law enforcement officer, identified as a key member of a trafficking network allegedly operating across the South-West region.
According to the statement, the victims, aged between 15 and 26, were recruited from Kano, Katsina, Oyo, Ondo and Rivers States. They were being trafficked to countries including Iraq, Sudan, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and Afghanistan. Many of them could neither speak English nor identify their intended destinations.
It explained that one of the rescued girls recounted how she was deceived by her father, also among the arrested suspects.
“They told my mother that they were taking me to Europe to work and earn dollars. My parents were happy and allowed me to follow them,” she said. Another victim, visibly shaken after watching videos of abused Nigerians abroad, vowed to seek her father’s prosecution.
“My father told me his friend got me a job in a Baghdad supermarket. He never told me Baghdad is in Iraq. I thank NAPTIP for rescuing me. I prefer to suffer here than die in another country,” she said tearfully.
Bello described the development as disturbing, especially the involvement of a retired officer who allegedly attempted to traffic his own daughter.
“It is incredibly unbelievable that a father, a retired law enforcement officer, would package his daughter for trafficking to Iraq. They will be thoroughly investigated and face the law,” the DG said.
She stressed that traffickers had turned the Abuja airport into a “comfort zone” but vowed to sustain the crackdown until syndicates are dismantled.
“Our resolve is firm. We will hunt traffickers wherever they are in Nigeria. Human trafficking is a visible national concern, and we all must be on the same page to turn the heat on these criminals,” Bello declared.
The DG also appreciated the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), the Department of State Services (DSS), immigration officers, airport security, and airline operators for supporting the raid.
The rescue follows NAPTIP’s renewed surveillance of trafficking hubs, including motor parks, waterways in coastal states, and international airports, after a surge in cases of Nigerians trafficked abroad for exploitation.
'
'Do you want to share a story with us? Do you want to advertise with us? Do you need publicity for a product, service, or event? Contact us on WhatsApp +2348183319097 Email: platformtimes@gmail.com
We are committed to impactful investigative journalism for human interest and social justice. Your donation will help us tell more stories. Kindly donate any amount HERE
