Operatives of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) and the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) have dismantled a transnational human trafficking syndicate operating within Nigeria and West Africa, rescuing 20 foreign victims and arresting three suspects.
The coordinated sting operation, carried out in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Osun, and Nasarawa States, targeted criminal hideouts and kingpins believed to be behind the smuggling and exploitation of victims trafficked from Equatorial Guinea and Togo into Nigeria.
The victims were reportedly subjected to severe forms of labour exploitation after being lured with false promises of lucrative jobs in Nigeria and onward travel to Europe.
The arrests and rescue were part of heightened surveillance and border enforcement efforts by NAPTIP, following a directive from its Director General, Binta Adamu Bello, OON. The agency has been increasing its crackdown on transnational trafficking rings by reinforcing cooperation with sister security and intelligence agencies across Nigeria.
According to victim testimonies, they were deceived into leaving their countries under the guise of secure job offers, only to be exploited and stripped of their identification documents upon arrival. Their communications were also reportedly restricted by traffickers.
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In a related development, NAPTIP has rescued a Nigerian woman trafficked to Senegal, with the help of the Nigerian Embassy in Dakar. The victim, a university graduate and mother of one, was lured with a promise of a job as a hair stylist and makeup artist.
Upon arriving in Senegal, she discovered that her employer—known as “Madam Rose”—was involved in child and sex trafficking. The victim was allegedly forced into prostitution, and when she resisted, her documents were seized, and she was left homeless in Kidira, a remote Senegalese village.
“She was mentally and emotionally traumatized to the point that her sanity was at risk,” said a relative who filed a petition with NAPTIP. Following swift intervention and coordination with Senegalese authorities and the Nigerian Immigration Service, the victim was rescued and safely returned to Lagos, Nigeria.
NAPTIP DG Binta Adamu Bello praised the success of both operations as a strong indication of growing synergy between Nigerian law enforcement bodies in tackling organized crime.
“This operation sends a clear message to trafficking syndicates exploiting Nigeria as a transit and destination country: your days are numbered. Our inter-agency collaboration is stronger than ever, and these joint efforts will continue across all regions of the country,” she said.
She commended the Chief of Defence Intelligence, Major General Emmanuel Undiandeye, the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), the Nigerian Embassy in Senegal, and the Nigerian Immigration Service for their support in the ongoing battle against human trafficking.
Bello added that a manhunt has been launched for the trafficker known as “Madam Rose” and assured that NAPTIP is working with law enforcement agencies in Senegal to ensure she is brought to justice.
