Seventy-eight victims of human trafficking, including underage girls and babies, have been rescued from Côte d’Ivoire and returned safely to Nigeria.
The victims, who were evacuated through the support of the federal government and private partners, landed at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, late Saturday night aboard an Air Peace flight.
Director General of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), Binta Bello, who personally received the victims at Terminal 2 of the Lagos airport, reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to eradicating human trafficking in Nigeria.
She announced a nationwide manhunt for the traffickers responsible for luring and exploiting the victims, most of whom are young women aged between 13 and 30.
“This is a momentous occasion, the safe return of our beloved daughters and a reaffirmation of our fight against human trafficking,” said DG Bello.
“We are already prosecuting some of the traffickers, and I assure Nigerians that NAPTIP will leave no stone unturned until all culprits are brought to justice.”
The rescue was made possible following weeks of coordinated efforts between NAPTIP operatives and international partners in Abidjan, where the victims had been stranded in deplorable conditions.
Notably, social media influencer Vincent Otse (aka VeryDarkMan) had drawn national attention to their plight during a recent visit to Côte d’Ivoire, prompting swift action from Nigerian authorities.
According to Bello, detailed profiling and medical assessments for each of the victims have commenced. Survivors will also receive psychological counseling, skills acquisition training, and reintegration support.
She noted that among the 78 rescued individuals were three babies and four pregnant teenagers, all of whom appeared malnourished and traumatized.
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The Chief Eexecutive Officer of Air Peace, Mr. Allen Onyema, who provided the flight and medical intervention free of charge, said his decision was driven by compassion.
“This is our way of standing with these young women and giving them a fresh start,” Onyema stated.
In an emotional account, one of the victims, identified only as Clara, described the abuse and trauma she suffered in Abidjan.
“I saw hell… but today I feel alive again. I thank God, NAPTIP, and Mr. Onyema for giving us another chance at life,” she said tearfully.
NAPTIP confirmed the arrest of two high-profile traffickers linked to the syndicate operating in Abuja.
Bello promised an intensified crackdown, declaring: “There is no hiding place for traffickers in Nigeria or anywhere in the world.”
The agency urges anyone with information on human trafficking activities to report anonymously through its official channels.
