In a significant operation against human trafficking, the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) has intercepted 13 women bound for Baghdad and shut down a Kwali hotel suspected of facilitating sexual exploitation.
According to NAPTIP officials, the 13 women aged between 19 and 39 were intercepted at Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport in Abuja just before they were scheduled to depart for Iraq. Intelligence provided by vigilant partners alerted security to unusual behavior at the departure lounge, prompting swift action by NAPTIP operatives.
In a statement released on Tuesday by Press Officer, Vincent Adekoye, the situation was characterized as especially troubling, Director General, Binta Adamu Bello, noted, “These women were deceived into signing contracts for two years, yet received only 60-day visas. Once these visas expire, they face significant risks of exploitation.
As undocumented workers, they lack legal protections, which makes it extremely difficult to seek accountability if they suffer any harm.”
The operation did not stop at the airport. In another development, authorities sealed a popular three-star hotel in the busy Kwali community of Abuja. During the raid, 11 underage girls were rescued from what officials believe was a setup for sexual exploitation. While the hotel owner was arrested, several supporting staff managed to flee.
This latest crackdown follows an earlier operation in which NAPTIP operatives rescued nine pregnant girls from a private apartment in one of Abuja’s upscale estates a move that highlights the increasingly sophisticated tactics employed by traffickers.
Director General emphasized that the agency’s actions are carried out under the authority of the Trafficking in Persons (Control of Activities of Organizations and Centres) Regulations 2019. “Our mandate is clear: we must protect these vulnerable individuals from unregistered labour recruiters and the criminal networks that operate between Nigeria and parts of the Middle East,” she stated.
The investigation revealed that traffickers plan to pay the victims a monthly salary of $250 an amount from which a significant portion is allegedly remitted to recruiters both in Nigeria and Iraq. “It is heartbreaking to know that many of these women receive only a few months’ worth of wages over a two-year contract period. Their exploitation is systematic and deeply embedded in the current recruitment practices,” Bello added.
NAPTIP has called on travel agents, tour operators, and the general public to exercise vigilance, stressing the importance of relying only on licensed and registered agencies. “We urge parents and guardians to be wary of any promises of employment abroad. The consequences of falling prey to these schemes are devastating and long-lasting,” Bello warned.
As NAPTIP continues its investigation into these trafficking networks, the agency is seeking enhanced cooperation from airport authorities, airlines, and other law enforcement agencies to stem the tide of human trafficking and protect the rights of vulnerable Nigerians.
