The Federal Government has recorded another major breakthrough in the fight against human trafficking as operatives of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) have arrested eight suspected traffickers and rescued 29 victims, most of them foreign nationals, during a coordinated operation in Abuja.
The operation, conducted at a popular apartment in a secluded part of Gwagwalada, followed credible intelligence provided by the Ghanaian Embassy in Nigeria. According to preliminary investigations, the syndicate specializes in luring victims across West African countries with false promises of decent jobs, only to subject them to sexual exploitation and cyber-related crimes upon arrival in Nigeria.
One of the victims, a Ghanaian national, reportedly paid $3,500 to members of the network for what was promised to be a legitimate business opportunity in Nigeria. Upon arrival, his passport and personal belongings were confiscated, leaving him vulnerable and stranded.
The swift response by NAPTIP operatives, acting in line with their statutory mandate and in collaboration with relevant security and diplomatic partners, led to the arrest of the eight suspects and the rescue of 20 women and nine men, aged between 17 and 30 years. All rescued victims have been moved to a government-protected shelter where they are receiving medical and psychological support, while discussions are ongoing with foreign missions to facilitate the safe return of non-Nigerian victims.
Items recovered during the operation include international passports, mobile phones, SIM cards, and records of financial transactions linked to the illicit activities of the syndicate.
Speaking on the development, the Director-General of NAPTIP, Binta Adamu Bello condemned the activities of transnational trafficking networks and reiterated the agency’s commitment to ensuring that traffickers find no safe haven in Nigeria.
“This case highlights the transnational dimension of human trafficking and the vulnerabilities of individuals seeking better opportunities across borders,” she said. “The swift intervention by the Agency, in collaboration with the Ghanaian Embassy, underscores the importance of intelligence sharing and coordinated law enforcement response.”
She further warned that traffickers would face the full weight of the law, stating:
“We will continue to disrupt their operations, intercept victims, and prosecute offenders. Nigeria will remain tough terrain for traffickers to operate in.”
This operation comes just days after another NAPTIP-led mission in Abuja rescued 25 women en route to Saudi Arabia for forced domestic labour, reaffirming the agency’s drive to dismantle trafficking networks and strengthen Nigeria’s internal security and human rights protections.
Reporting by Niran Odufayo