NAPTIP Dismantles Nigeria–Ghana Trafficking Syndicate, Arrests 8, Rescues 29 Victims in Abuja
NAPTIP has arrested eight suspected traffickers and rescued 29 victims in a raid in Abuja.
Officials say the syndicate lured foreigners for exploitation, seizing passports and extorting money.
The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) has arrested eight suspected traffickers and rescued 29 victims during a raid on an apartment in Gwagwalada, Abuja. Most of the victims were identified as foreign nationals from West African countries.
The operation was triggered by intelligence received from the Ghanaian Embassy in Abuja, which reported a case involving one of its citizens allegedly lured to Nigeria under false pretenses. According to the Embassy, the victim had been promised legitimate opportunities but was defrauded of $3,500, stripped of his international passport and belongings, and subjected to exploitation upon arrival in Nigeria.
Responding swiftly, NAPTIP operatives stormed a hidden apartment in Gwagwalada where the syndicate was operating. Eight suspects were arrested, while 29 victims 20 females aged between 17 and 28, and nine males between 18 and 30 were rescued and placed under protective custody. Items recovered included passports, phones, SIM cards, and financial records linked to the trafficking network.
Preliminary findings suggest the syndicate trafficked victims into Nigeria for sexual exploitation and cybercrime. Some of the victims’ temporary permits had already expired, leaving them even more vulnerable.
NAPTIP Director-General, Binta Adamu Bello, described the breakthrough as proof of the agency’s commitment to dismantling transnational trafficking rings. “This case underscores the cross-border nature of human trafficking and the risks faced by those seeking better opportunities. With strong intelligence sharing and coordinated enforcement, we will continue to intercept traffickers, rescue victims, and ensure justice is served,” she said.
She vowed that the arrested suspects will face prosecution, stressing that Nigeria will remain a hostile environment for trafficking networks. Meanwhile, NAPTIP has begun consultations with relevant diplomatic missions to arrange appropriate support and repatriation for the foreign victims.
