By Huldah Shado
The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), has dismantled a human trafficking ring in Abuja, arresting eight suspects and rescuing 29 victims, most of them foreign nationals.
The operation, conducted in Gwagwalada, a suburb of the Federal Capital Territory, followed a tip-off from the Ghanaian Embassy.
Officials described it as a major breakthrough against cross-border traffickers.
The victims; 20 young women and nine young men had been lured with promises of jobs and legitimate opportunities but were instead exploited for sexual activities and forced into cybercrime schemes.
One of the victims, a Ghanaian national, raised the alarm after being defrauded of $3,500 by the traffickers.
During the raid, NAPTIP recovered passports, mobile phones, SIM cards, and financial transaction records.
Director-General Binta Adamu Bello said the operation underscores the agency’s determination to dismantle trafficking networks and protect vulnerable persons.
The victims have been moved to a safe shelter, while NAPTIP is working with relevant diplomatic missions to facilitate their rehabilitation and safe repatriation.
The eight suspects remain in custody and will face prosecution upon the conclusion of investigations.
This operation comes just days after another NAPTIP interception in which 25 women were rescued from being smuggled to Saudi Arabia for domestic servitude.
Bello reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to eradicating human trafficking and ensuring justice for victims.