From Fred Ezeh, Abuja
Operatives of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) have arrested eight persons suspected to be members of a notorious human trafficking syndicate operating between Nigeria and Ghana.
The Agency, in a statement on Wednesday, noted that 29 victims, most of whom are foreign nationals from some West African countries, were rescued.
Vincent Adekoye, Press Officer, NAPTIP, who signed the statement, noted that the operation was carried out at a popular apartment located in Gwagwalada, Abuja, following an intelligence report from the Ghanaian Embassy in Abuja.
He said the arrest comes barely a few days after the Agency disrupted another trafficking arrangement in Abuja and rescued 25 women en route to Saudi Arabia for domestic exploitation.
He said the Agency had received an intelligence report from the Ghanaian Embassy concerning a suspected case of human trafficking involving a Ghanaian national.
He said the Embassy informed NAPTIP that the victim was allegedly recruited in Ghana under false pretences and transported to Nigeria, where he was subjected to exploitation. “The Embassy thus requested the Agency’s urgent intervention in line with existing bilateral cooperation agreements and anti-trafficking frameworks.
“The Embassy said the victim was allegedly defrauded of USD 3,500 by a suspected trafficking syndicate that had promised him legitimate opportunities in Nigeria. But upon arrival in Nigeria, the traffickers confiscated his international passport and personal belongings, leaving him vulnerable and at the mercy of the syndicate.
“This report triggered immediate operational action in compliance with the Agency’s mandate to prevent, suppress, and prosecute trafficking in persons as provided under national and international legal frameworks.
“During the raid, eight suspects were apprehended. The suspects are believed to be members of an organised trafficking network operating between Ghana and Nigeria. They are currently in custody, undergoing profiling and interrogation.”
NAPTIP also confirmed that 29 victims were successfully rescued in the course of the operation. “The victims comprise 20 females aged between 17 and 28 and 9 males aged between 18 and 30. They were immediately taken into protective custody.
“The international passport and other personal belongings of the primary victim were recovered during the operation. Other materials suspected to be linked to trafficking activities were also seized, including mobile phones, SIM cards, and financial transaction records.
“While the 29 rescued victims have been transferred to a safe shelter where they are receiving immediate assistance, the Agency has commenced discussions with the relevant diplomatic missions for the foreign nationals among the rescued persons.”
The Director General of NAPTIP, Binta Adamu Bello, decried the activities of the transborder human traffickers and the new trends of foreign nationals as victims.
She said the 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.”
She said the suspects in the case will face the full wrath of the law, insisting that the atmosphere in Nigeria will continue to be tough for them to operate. “We shall continue to disrupt their operations, intercept and rescue the victims, and also prosecute them.
“The Agency remains committed to its mandate of ensuring justice for victims, dismantling trafficking networks, and strengthening partnerships at both national and international levels to eradicate human trafficking,” Binta Adamu Bello said.