DG NAPTIP, Binta Adamu Bello, with one of the victims she intercepted inside the airport
……WE SHALL
CONTINUE TO HUNT THE TRAFFICKERS WHEREEVER THEY ARE IN NIGERIA……SAYS DG,
NAPTIP
Rukayatu Yakub
Senior Correspondent
In a practical demonstration of a true leader with passion for the vulnerable, the Director General of the National Agency for the
Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), Binta Adamu Bello, OON, today
led a high-powered special operation at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International
Airport, Abuja, resulting in the dramatic rescue of 24 victims of human
trafficking and the arrest of five suspected trafficking agents.
According to the National Press Officer of the Agency, Vincent Adekoye, among the suspected human traffickers arrested at
the airport was a retired Senior uniform Officer with one of the foremost Law
Enforcement Agency in Nigeria, who is alleged to be a prominent member of the
trafficking syndicate operating within the South West region of Nigeria.
The unprecedented crackdown that caught all actors unaware, which was hailed by other travelers at the airport, was a continuation of the newly unveiled anti-human trafficking efforts and onslaught against human trafficking by the Director General, targeting recruitment hubs, trafficking spots, and routes within Nigeria.
It would be recalled that following reported
increased cases of recruitment and trafficking of Nigerians for various forms
of exploitation both within and outside the Country, the Director General of
NAPTIP, Binta Adamu Bello, had, few months ago, ordered a step up surveillance
and monitoring of all parts of the Country with greater attention on motor
parks, water ways in the coaster States as well as International airports.
The latest raid followed a tip-off from concerned
stakeholders and partners who alerted to an influx of suspected human
trafficking victims at the Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport, Abuja, and the
unwholesome activities of some suspected traffickers.
At the end of nearly 6 hours of operation, the human
trafficking activities were completely disrupted, leading to the arrest of five
suspected traffickers and the rescue of 24 suspected victims.
The victims whose ages range between 15 years to 26
years were recruited from Kano, Kastina, Oyo, Ondo and Rivers States, and were heading
to Iraq, Sudan, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and Afghanistan.
While a good number of the victims could not
communicate in any other language apart from their dialect, others do not even
know the location of their intended Country of destination.
“They told my mother that they are taking me to
Europe, where I will work and earn dollars. My parent were happy and they
allowed me to follow them”, one of them said.
It was another mild drama at the Headquarters of
NAPTIP as one of the victims vowed to ensure the prosecution of her father for
deceiving her into embarking on the journey. This was after the Director
General had personally counseled the victims and enlightened them with a series
of video clips of some stranded Nigerians and those on life support after being
exploited at the destination Countries.
The victim said, “I struggled to hold my emotions while watching
the video of those girls who were being maltreated and beaten by the
traffickers. If that is what awaits me there, I will not go. I am seriously annoyed
with my father because he deceived me. My father told me that his friend has a
job for me at a supermarket in Baghdad. He did not tell me that it is in Iraq.
I know that Iraq is not a good place to work for now to work due to the crisis
there, but I did not know that Baghdad is in Iraq. I thank DG and her Officers
for rescuing me, pls, I just need my Passport, I want to go back to my town and
settle. I will certainly make it here rather than suffer in another country”,
the victim, whose father was among the traffickers arrested, yielded in her
local dialect.
Speaking on the development, the Director General of
NAPTIP, Binta Adamu Bello, expressed sadness over the activities of some
suspected human traffickers and unregistered labour recruiters who have continued
to deceive, recruit, and traffic Nigerians for various forms of exploitation.
“I am impressed with the outcome of the operation
today because we were able to arrest five suspected members of the trafficking
gang that have been recruiting and trafficking our citizens to various tension-soaked
countries, especially in the Middle East, for exploitation.
“We observed that the Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport
is becoming a comfort zone for these traffickers, and that is why we have
decided to shift attention to this airport. We will sustain this raid until
they stop this unpatriotic and illicit trade in human beings.
“I was amazed that a father, who is a retired Law
Enforcement Officer of senior Cadre, deceived his daughter and packaged her to
be trafficked to Iraq for exploitation. This is incredibly unbelievable. Well,
all of them will be thoroughly investigated, and they will face the law.
“I sincerely thank and appreciate the Director
General of the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), the Nnamdi Azikwe
International Airport Manager, and all the wonderful personnel of the authority
for their support for us at NAPTIP. I also appreciate the collaboration of the
Department of State Service (DSS) operatives at the Airport, the Airport
Security Personnel, Immigration Officers, and airline operators for their
support.
“Human trafficking is a visible national concern,
and we all must be on the same page to turn the heat on the traffickers. Our resolve
to ensure the protection of Nigerians from all forms of exploitation is firm
and resolute”, the Director General of NAPTIP declared.
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