The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) has rescued seven suspected victims of human trafficking during a raid on a hotel near the Abuja International Airport.
This was disclosed in a statement by NAPTIP’s Press Officer, Mr. Vincent Adekoye, and made available to newsmen. According to Adekoye, the operation was conducted at a hotel located in the Zamaru community following credible intelligence from stakeholders who observed suspicious activities around the premises.
The victims, who were reportedly being prepared for trafficking to Baghdad, Iraq, for exploitation, were rescued during the raid. The hotel manager was also arrested as part of the investigation.
Adekoye revealed that a preliminary profiling of the victims indicated that six of them were recruited from Lagos State, while one was from Delta State. The victims were deceived with false promises of lucrative caregiving jobs in Iraq. However, they were unaware they were being trafficked for exploitative purposes.
“They told me that I would work as a house help in Baghdad and receive a good salary every month. I believed them because I thought Baghdad was in another country. They didn’t tell me I was going to Iraq,” one of the victims recounted.
Reacting to the incident, NAPTIP Director General Binta Adamu-Bello, represented by the Director of Research and Programme Development, Mr. Josiah Emerole, expressed concern over the growing cases of human trafficking.
Adamu-Bello highlighted that in recent months, the agency had intercepted no fewer than 60 suspected victims of trafficking at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja. These individuals were en route to volatile Middle Eastern countries.
She condemned the complicity of certain service providers in aiding and abetting trafficking networks under the guise of recruitment services.
“It is alarming how some service providers in the country facilitate the recruitment, transportation, and harbouring of Nigerians who become victims of human trafficking. The hotel in question is believed to have served as a muster point for trafficking victims destined for notorious countries,” she said.
Adamu-Bello warned that the agency would invoke relevant provisions of the law to prosecute those found complicit.
The hotel manager is currently under interrogation, and NAPTIP has launched a manhunt for other members of the trafficking syndicate, including collaborators based in Iraq.
The agency further disclosed that the victims were often coached on how to evade detection by law enforcement officers at airports. Traffickers used deceptive tactics, encouraging victims to disguise themselves and provide misleading information during inspections.
“Because of the unpatriotic roles of some of these service providers, the agency will henceforth apply the full force of the law to prosecute them,” Adamu-Bello stated.
NAPTIP reiterated its commitment to curbing human trafficking and ensuring justice for victims, urging the public to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities to authorities.
