Abuja, Nigeria – June 14, 2025
In a major breakthrough against human trafficking, Nigerian security forces have rescued 20 victims and dismantled a transnational trafficking syndicate operating within and beyond the country’s borders.
The operation, coordinated by the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) in collaboration with the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) and Interpol, led to the arrest of seven suspects, including two foreign nationals believed to be key players in the network.
According to a statement from NAPTIP, the victims—mostly young women between the ages of 17 and 28—were being prepared for illegal migration to various destinations in North Africa and Europe, where they were to be exploited for forced labour and prostitution.
“This is a significant win in our fight against trafficking. We intercepted the syndicate at a transit point in Lagos following weeks of intelligence gathering,” said NAPTIP Director-General, Prof. Fatima Waziri-Azi.
She revealed that the victims are currently receiving medical care, psychosocial support, and temporary shelter, while efforts are ongoing to reunite them with their families.
Interpol has confirmed that the arrested suspects will face prosecution in Nigeria, and further investigations are underway to uncover the full extent of the network’s operations across multiple countries.
Authorities are urging citizens to remain vigilant and report suspicious movements or recruitment activities to help curb the growing menace of human trafficking in the region.
