The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) has rescued 25 women from a suspected human trafficking syndicate in Abuja.
In a statement, NAPTIP spokesperson Vincent Adekoye said the victims, believed to have been lured into labour exploitation, were intercepted while preparing to travel to Saudi Arabia.
The women, aged between 17 and 43, were found in front of a popular hotel in Wuse II, Abuja, where they had gathered to meet their traffickers. They revealed that they were recruited from Kano, Jigawa, and Katsina States with promises of lucrative domestic work abroad.
One of the victims narrated how her parents were persuaded by agents who assured them that she would secure a well-paying house-help job in Saudi Arabia. However, none of the women had been given travel documents such as passports or visas, leaving them stranded in Abuja.
NAPTIP Director-General, Binta Bello, condemned the activities of the traffickers, warning that Abuja is increasingly being used as a coordination hub for trafficking operations.
“The sad aspect of this situation is that the unsuspecting victims eagerly accepted the offer without knowing the harrowing experience and exploitation that awaited them at their supposed destination,” Bello said.
She urged the Association of Recruiters, the Licensed Placement Agency of Nigeria, and other regulatory bodies to strengthen oversight of their members to curb trafficking activities.
Leave a comment