The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) has successfully intercepted 13 Nigerian women en route to Baghdad, Iraq, where they were intended to be exploited for sexual and labor purposes.
The victims, aged between 19 and 39 years, were allegedly deceived by unregistered labor recruiters linked to a larger trafficking syndicate operating between Nigeria and the Middle East.
NAPTIP’s spokesperson, Vincent Adekoye, confirmed the interception, revealing that the women were stopped at Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport in Abuja just before their departure for Iraq.
The operation was carried out in collaboration with partner agencies, acting on a tip-off from concerned members of the public who noticed suspicious behavior from the women.
The traffickers behind the plot reportedly promised the victims employment in Baghdad, but investigations revealed the deceitful nature of the scheme.
The women were issued 60-day visas for Iraq, despite signing labor contracts for two-year terms.
This discrepancy leaves the victims vulnerable, as once their visas expire, they would be left without legal rights or means of recourse, potentially making them subject to exploitation by their employers.
“The case is disturbing because these women were lured by unlicensed agents, and should anything go wrong, there would be no one to hold accountable,” said NAPTIP’s Director-General, Binta Bello.
“These victims are undocumented workers, which further exposes them to risk.”
Bello also highlighted that the women were promised a meager $250 monthly salary, out of which they would be required to remit four months’ pay to agents in both Nigeria and Iraq, a scheme that reinforces their vulnerability.
In a separate development, NAPTIP operatives raided a hotel in the Kwali Area Council of Abuja, rescuing 11 underage girls believed to be victims of sexual exploitation.
The hotel, identified as Three Stars Hotel, was sealed, and its owner arrested, while other staff managed to flee the scene.
This rescue operation follows a similar bust last month, in which NAPTIP freed nine pregnant girls held in a private apartment in one of Abuja’s upscale estates.
Director-General Bello expressed her deep concern over the prevalence of human trafficking, urging parents and guardians to be cautious of false promises made by unscrupulous recruiters.
“We must remain vigilant, as traffickers prey on the vulnerable,” she added.
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