The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), Lagos Command, has received 12 victims of human trafficking who were repatriated from Ghana. This operation is part of ongoing trans-border collaboration between state and non-state actors in the fight against human trafficking in Nigeria.
Details of the Rescued Victims
The victims include nine females aged between 17 and 19 years, two males aged 22, and a baby. They were rescued through the combined efforts of the Nigerian High Commission in Ghana and other law enforcement agencies. Preliminary investigations reveal that the victims were recruited, deceived, and trafficked to Ghana under the false promise of lucrative jobs. Instead, they were forced into prostitution and cybercrime by unidentified traffickers.
Reception and Reintegration
Receiving the returnees, the Zonal Commander of NAPTIP Lagos, Mrs. Agboko Comfort, represented by the Head of the International and Intelligence Cooperation Unit (IICU), Omolara Ibrahim, urged the victims to see this as an opportunity to learn from past experiences and rebuild their lives. She expressed gratitude to the Nigerian High Commission and the Nigerian Immigration Service for the proper referral and handover of the returnees to the agency. She assured that NAPTIP would pursue the traffickers and ensure their prosecution.
Army Disrupts Trafficking in Badagry
In a related development, troops of the Nigerian Army disrupted trafficking activities at Ibereko Badagry, Lagos. The operation led to the arrest of two traffickers and the rescue of two female victims. The troops were on patrol when they intercepted the suspects: Mr. Sunday, a 25-year-old man, and two young women, Miss Blessing, 29, and Miss Favour, 26. They were heading to the Seme border with two female victims aged 25 and 19. Preliminary investigations indicate that the trio intended to hand over the victims to another contact in their trafficking chain, with plans to move them to Ghana. One suspect remains at large.
