Abuja, Nigeria | June 16, 2025
In a major breakthrough in the fight against human trafficking, Nigerian security agencies have dismantled a transnational organized trafficking syndicate operating within the country, rescuing 20 foreign nationals and arresting three key suspects.
The operation, led by a joint task force of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) and the Nigeria Immigration Service, was carried out in a coordinated raid on a suspected hideout in Kano State on Saturday.
According to NAPTIP Director-General, Prof. Fatima Waziri-Azi, the victims, including young women and minors, were being trafficked for forced labor and sexual exploitation, with plans to smuggle them through illegal routes into Europe and the Middle East.
The three arrested suspects, all Nigerians, are believed to be coordinators for the West African cell of the trafficking ring. Authorities recovered travel documents, forged visas, and foreign currencies during the raid.
Preliminary investigations suggest the rescued victims, who are nationals of Niger, Mali, and Cameroon, were housed in inhumane conditions and subjected to physical and psychological abuse.
The victims are now in protective custody and receiving medical and psychological support.
NAPTIP reiterated its warning to human traffickers, stating that Nigeria will not serve as a safe haven for modern-day slavery. The agency also called on the public to report suspicious movements or activities to law enforcement.
The case is expected to be charged to court as investigations continue.
