NAPTIP rescues ‘20 kidnap victims’, arrests three suspects

The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) says it’s official have rescued 20 kidnap victims across the country.

In a statement via X, the agency noted that the rescue operations were carried out in the Abuja, Osun, and Nasarawa.

According to the agency, the operation was as a result of efforts to intensify surveillance within border communities across the country.

NAPTIP officials also arrested three suspects believed to be members of an “organised criminal network operating in Nigeria”.

The agency noted that the victims were trafficked from the Equatorial Guinea and Togo for “labour exploitation” in Nigeria.

The trafficking syndicate reportedly promised them high-paying jobs in Europe, but “they were later subjected to sundry labour exploitation upon arrival in Nigeria”.

NAPTIP noted that its operatives also rescued a middle-aged woman trafficked from Dakar, capital of Senegal.

The victim had revealed that she was promised a hair styling and make-up jobs, but only to be “forced in prostitution”.

The victim identified her enforcer as “Madam Rose”, who she also claimed destroyed her traveling documents.

Binta Bello, the NAPTIP director general, said the successful operations were a reflection of the growing synergy with law enforcement agencies in Nigeria.

“The operation was strategic and targeted at the transnational organised criminal elements that are now making Nigeria an attractive human trafficking destination,” she said.

“This is just the beginning of our planned onslaught on them. These unpatriotic individuals move from one neighboring country to the other, deceiving victims with promises of gainful employment in Nigeria.

“As soon as they bring the victims to Nigeria, they sublect them to various forms of exploitation after collecting all their means of identification and preventing them from having access to any form of communication.

“These operations will be a continuous exercise, and we are also focusing on other parts of the Country to rid the nation of all activities of these criminal syndicates.”

Bello said the agency is making combined effort to arrest the suspect identified as ‘Madam Rose’.