Pregnancy Trafficking Case in Abuja Sparks National Outcry, Renewed Calls for United Action Against Human Trafficking
A deeply disturbing case involving the rescue of 19 pregnant teenage girls from a housing estate in Abuja has sent shockwaves across Nigeria and reignited urgent calls for a comprehensive national crackdown on human trafficking. The victims were reportedly impregnated by a single individual, in what authorities have described as a clear case of organized exploitation.
The alarming revelation was made by Hajia Binta Adamu Bello, Director-General of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), during a strategic high-level meeting held at the headquarters of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) in Abuja.
Reacting to the case, Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Chairman/CEO of NiDCOM, described the situation as a national emergency requiring a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach.
“This is a very dangerous and heartbreaking situation,” she said. “We must declare a full-scale war on human trafficking. It is not just a NAPTIP issue—it is a national crisis that demands joint action from all relevant stakeholders.”
Dabiri-Erewa called for enhanced collaboration among agencies including NAPTIP, NiDCOM, the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI), the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, and the Federal Ministry of Youth Development. She emphasized that no single agency can tackle the scourge of trafficking in isolation.
She further advocated for: Public naming and shaming of traffickers, similar to strategies used against drug kingpins, harsher penalties for offenders, and greater financial and policy support for NAPTIP to improve responsiveness and enforcement.
Dabiri-Erewa acknowledged the support of First Lady Senator Oluremi Tinubu, the International Organization for Migration (IOM), Wema Bank, civil society organizations, neighboring countries, and members of the Nigerian diaspora, all of whom play key roles in rescue operations and reintegration of trafficking survivors.
In her own remarks, DG Hajia Binta Adamu Bello reinforced the urgency of the issue, noting that human trafficking is a growing and evolving menace that cannot be fought in isolation.
She commended NiDCOM’s consistent partnership, especially during the recent rescue of 231 Nigerians trafficked to Ghana, and called for sustained and deeper institutional collaboration. “We need massive public sensitization. Every household, school, and community must be aware of the dangers of trafficking,” she said.
Bello reaffirmed NAPTIP’s unwavering commitment to protecting the rights, dignity, and safety of all Nigerians, especially the most vulnerable, and called on all sectors of society to remain vigilant and proactive.
The strategic meeting concluded with a joint resolution by NAPTIP and NiDCOM to: Intensify advocacy and awareness campaigns; Expand rescue missions; Strengthen inter-agency coordination, and pursue comprehensive policy reforms to dismantle trafficking networks and safeguard the future of Nigeria’s youth.