The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) has launched a major crackdown on human trafficking syndicates, arresting two high-profile suspects believed to be masterminds behind a trans-border trafficking ring operating in West Africa and the Gulf of Guinea.
The suspects, identified as Emmanuel Uzor Igwe (32) and Ugochukwu Christian (30), were apprehended in their luxury mansion in Lugbe, Abuja, following intelligence reports and testimonies from victims stranded in Côte d’Ivoire. The operation, led by NAPTIP’s Head of Operations, also resulted in the rescue of two victims undergoing forced sexual exploitation.
The breakthrough came after human rights activist and social media influencer Martins Vincent Otse (aka VeryDarkMan – VDM) shared disturbing accounts from victims trapped in Côte d’Ivoire. The victims revealed how they were lured with promises of high-paying jobs in a mall, only to be forced into prostitution under threats and an oath of secrecy.
Upon investigation, NAPTIP, in collaboration with sister security agencies, tracked down the suspects to their high-tech residence, which served as their operational base. The victims, found naked and in compromising situations, disclosed that they were taken to a shrine outside Abuja for oath-taking before being trafficked.
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NAPTIP’s Director-General, Dr. Fatima Waziri-Azi, declared that the agency is intensifying efforts to dismantle human trafficking networks across Nigeria, according to Vincent Adekoye Press Officer, NAPTIP.
“The arrest of these suspects marks the beginning of a well-coordinated onslaught against traffickers. We are working with international partners to rescue more victims stranded in Côte d’Ivoire and other regions,”* she stated.
She commended VeryDarkMan for his role in exposing the syndicate and urged Nigerians to remain vigilant against deceptive job offers abroad.
“The suspects will face prosecution, while NAPTIP continues its pursuit of other accomplices. The agency has also initiated discussions with Ivorian authorities to facilitate the safe return of stranded victims.
“The game is over for human traffickers in Nigeria. We will choke their operations unless they stop exploiting innocent citizens,” DG Waziri-Azi warned.
