Hostages trajectories appears to be linking Nigeria and Palestinians troubled Gaza Strip in commonality of reality.
While Hamas militants took around 251 people hostage Israeli citizens and foreign nationals, including children, women, and elderly, a similar scenario is playing out in Lagos Nigeria with over 27 Foreign Nationals held hostage by criminal elements under different circumstances.
The Gaza hostage crisis began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas militants launched a surprise attack on Israel, killing hundreds and taking around 251 people hostage but the foreign hostages in Nigeria were lured with false promises of employment, only to find themselves ensnared in the dark web of human trafficking.
For Gaza the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), launched series of bombardment and secured the rescue of many of the hostages. In Nigeria, report has it that the Nigerian Police force has equally secured the rescue of 27 foreigners held hostage
The Lagos State Police Command has successfully liberated 27 foreign nationals held hostage in Nigeria with false promises of employment.
These victims, consisting of 18 men and nine women from Ghana and Benin Republic, were discovered trapped in a hideout in the Isheri Oshun area of Lagos, deprived of their freedom and subjected to exploitation.
Benjamin Hundeyin, the spokesperson for the Lagos State Police Command, addressed the press regarding the security situation in the state, stated that “A distress call from one of the victims led officers from the Conflict Response Unit to the location, where they freed the individuals. “
Preliminary investigations suggest the victims were to be transported elsewhere, raising concerns about potential international trafficking.
The police have launched an extensive probe to identify the traffickers and their network.
”Moreover, during the operation, the Command also rescued six additional kidnap victims and apprehended several suspects, including two Pakistani nationals and two Nigerians, as part of a broader anti-kidnapping initiative in the state.”
“In one such case, two Pakistani nationals, Umarangol, 19, and Aftab Hamad, 28, were arrested for allegedly kidnapping a fellow Pakistani
whom they had deceived into traveling to Lagos under the pretense of providing him with a job as a chef.
The victim was confined in a hotel on Awolowo Road, Ikeja, where the kidnappers demanded a N50 million ransom for his release.
“A prompt response from the police facilitated the rescue of the victim, leading to the arrest of two of the seven suspected kidnappers.
The investigation has now been handed over to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), and the Pakistani embassy has been apprised of the situation.”
Human trafficking is a critical issue in Nigeria, a country often viewed as a source, transit, and destination for trafficked persons.
Human trafficking is an alarming and pervasive problem in Nigeria, deeply rooted in socio-economic vulnerabilities and exacerbated by various cultural and systemic issues.
This heinous crime not only strips individuals of their freedom and dignity but also threatens the social fabric.
According to the Nigerian Police, In a different incident, three individuals inspecting land near the new airport area in Lekki were abducted by a group of five armed assailants.
“This abduction occurred on March 7, 2025, around 5:50 p.m.,
but relentless pressure from police operatives compelled the kidnappers to abandon their victims.”
“The rescued individuals were returned to their families within 24 hours,
while a manhunt was initiated to capture the fleeing suspects, highlighting the ongoing threat of violence and abduction in the region.”
In another unsettling case, a female delivery agent fell into a kidnapping and extortion scheme on March 9, 2025.
According to the police report, the victim was enticed to a specific location under the guise of making a product delivery,
only to be violently dragged inside by a man and a woman,
later identified as Emmanuel and Mazioma Okafor.“
“The suspects allegedly stripped the woman bare, taking explicit photographs of her and demanding 2 million naira to prevent the images from being leaked”
“This is exemplifying the pervasive menace of human trafficking and exploitation that continues to plague Nigeria.”
Nigeria is a key player in the global human trafficking network, with vulnerable populations being particularly targeted.
Traffickers exploit socio-economic factors, including poverty, lack of education,
and limited economic opportunities, to lure unsuspecting victims with false promises of employment, education, or a better life.
Young girls and women are especially at risk, as they are often trafficked for sexual exploitation, forced labor, and domestic servitude.
It is hoped that the authorities would intensify efforts at securing the release or rescue of all the people held hostage in Nigeria.