By Yecenu J. Sasetu
In a bold move against human trafficking, operatives of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) have intercepted 13 Nigerian women at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, moments before they were trafficked to Iraq for forced labor and sexual exploitation.
The women, aged between 19 and 39, had been deceived by unregistered labor recruiters, part of a notorious trafficking syndicate operating between Nigeria and the Middle East. Their ordeal was cut short by NAPTIP’s swift intervention, preventing them from falling into the hands of ruthless exploiters abroad.
But that wasn’t the only victory for NAPTIP. In a separate sting operation, the agency stormed a notorious hotel in Kwali, Federal Capital Territory, and rescued 11 underage girls who were being forced into sexual exploitation. The hotel owner was arrested, though some staff members managed to flee before law enforcement arrived.
According to NAPTIP’s investigation, the trafficked women had been lured with promises of $250 monthly salaries but were bound by exploitative contracts requiring them to surrender four months’ wages to recruiters in Nigeria. Worse still, their two-year labor agreements conflicted with the 60-day visas they were issued—ensuring they would become undocumented and powerless in a foreign land.
“These traffickers prey on desperation, selling dreams that turn into nightmares. Victims often return from war-torn destinations with severe trauma, abuse, and life-threatening medical conditions,” warned NAPTIP Director General Binta Adamu Bello, OON.
Bello emphasized NAPTIP’s relentless crackdown on human trafficking networks, vowing to expose those behind these heinous crimes.
“It is heartbreaking to see people willingly walk into danger, unaware of the horrors awaiting them. Many return in worse conditions—physically, emotionally, and mentally scarred. We will not relent in our fight against traffickers,” she stated.
She urged Nigerians to remain vigilant and report suspicious recruitment activities, especially those targeting young and vulnerable individuals.
With increasing cases of trafficking, NAPTIP has reaffirmed its commitment to dismantling human trafficking rings and ensuring that perpetrators face the full wrath of the law.
