Operatives of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) have successfully apprehended eight individuals suspected of belonging to a well-organised human trafficking syndicate operating between Nigeria and Ghana.
During the operation, the Agency also rescued 29 victims, most of whom were foreign nationals from various West African countries.
The raid occurred at a widely frequented apartment complex in a concealed section of Gwagwalada, a suburb of Abuja.
The operation was launched following an intelligence tip-off from one of the foreign embassies in the Nigerian capital.
This recent action comes just days after NAPTIP disrupted another trafficking arrangement in Abuja, rescuing 25 women who were reportedly en route to Saudi Arabia for domestic exploitation.
Investigation revealed that the Agency had received an official intelligence report from the Ghanaian Embassy concerning a suspected trafficking case involving a Ghanaian national.
According to the Embassy, the victim was recruited in Ghana under false pretences and transported to Nigeria, where he was subjected to exploitation.
The Embassy requested NAPTIP’s immediate intervention under existing bilateral cooperation agreements and anti-trafficking frameworks.
Further details indicated that the victim had been defrauded of USD 3,500 by the suspected traffickers, who had promised legitimate employment opportunities in Nigeria.
Upon arrival in the country, the traffickers confiscated his international passport and personal belongings, leaving him entirely at their mercy.
Acting on this report, NAPTIP launched an immediate operational response, in line with its mandate to prevent, suppress, and prosecute trafficking in persons under national and international legal frameworks.
The raid led to the arrest of eight suspects believed to be core members of the transnational trafficking network. They are currently in custody, undergoing profiling and interrogation.
In addition to the arrests, 29 victims were rescued, comprising 20 females aged between 17 and 28, and nine males aged between 18 and 30.
They were promptly placed in protective custody. During the operation, authorities recovered the primary victim’s international passport and other personal belongings, alongside materials linked to trafficking activities, including mobile phones, SIM cards, and financial records.
Preliminary investigations revealed that several of the rescued victims, whose temporary permits had expired, had been trafficked into Nigeria for alleged sexual exploitation and cybercrime activities.
While immediate care has been provided at a secure shelter, NAPTIP has begun consultations with relevant diplomatic missions to facilitate the safe return of foreign nationals.
Commenting on the operation, NAPTIP Director-General Binta Adamu Bello, OON, condemned the activities of cross-border traffickers and highlighted the emerging trend of foreign nationals being targeted as victims.
“This case underscores the transnational nature of human trafficking and the vulnerabilities faced by individuals seeking better opportunities across borders,” Bello stated.
“The swift intervention by NAPTIP, in collaboration with the Ghanaian Embassy, demonstrates the critical importance of timely intelligence sharing and coordinated law enforcement action.
“The suspects will face the full weight of the law, as I warned a few weeks ago.
“Nigeria will remain a challenging environment for human traffickers to operate.
“We will continue to dismantle trafficking networks, rescue victims, and ensure that perpetrators are prosecuted.
“The Agency remains steadfast in its commitment to securing justice for victims, strengthening national and international partnerships, and eradicating human trafficking in all its forms.”