A fugitive notorious for her involvement in international human trafficking has been apprehended at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.
The suspect, Uadiale Christiana Jacob, also known as Christy Gold, was intercepted by the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) upon her arrival from Dubai on December 31, 2024.
On Thursday, Vincent Adekoya, the spokesperson for the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), remarked, “The capture of Christy Gold represents a significant achievement in our fight against human trafficking. After many years of escaping justice, her operations and network have been revealed, and legal action will follow.”
Christy Gold, a fugitive for more than five years, is identified as a high-ranking member of a human trafficking organization functioning throughout the Middle East. It is claimed that her group has trafficked and sexually exploited many young Nigerian girls in Dubai.
The suspect left Nigeria in 2020 after being accused of trafficking offenses in the Federal High Court in Asaba, Delta State. Although she was released on bail, she went into hiding, leading the court to issue a bench warrant for her arrest in November 2021.
Adekoya disclosed that the group functioned within a complex framework, with Christy Gold managing operations from Dubai. “She collaborated with associates in Nigeria who were responsible for recruiting victims, such as Michael Nduka, Osas Wiseman, Vivian, and a figure known as Prophet John in Lagos. These individuals are still on the run, and we are escalating our efforts to capture them,” he stated.
This arrest marked the result of years of joint efforts involving NAPTIP, the Nigeria Immigration Service, INTERPOL, the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), and law enforcement agencies in the United Arab Emirates.
NAPTIP confirmed that Christy Gold is currently in their custody and will be held accountable for her alleged offenses under the law.
The agency has reaffirmed its dedication to dismantling human trafficking networks and holding offenders accountable.
