Abuja – February 18, 2025 – The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) made a significant intervention on Tuesday, sealing a popular three-star hotel in the Kwali community of Kwali Area Council, Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, in a move that has shaken the capital’s human trafficking network.

In the operation, NAPTIP agents rescued 11 underage girls believed to have been exploited for sexual purposes. Vincent Adekoye, NAPTIP’s National Press Officer, confirmed the development, stating that the hotel’s owner had been arrested, while several supporting staff managed to flee the scene.

The operation comes just one month after NAPTIP operatives raided a high-end private apartment in Abuja, where they rescued non-pregnant girls suspected of being victims of human trafficking.

Intercepted Victims En Route to Iraq

NAPTIP also recently foiled another trafficking attempt, rescuing 13 girls, aged between 19 and 39, at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja. The young women were en route to Baghdad, Iraq, where they were likely destined for sexual and labor exploitation.

The girls had been recruited by unregistered labor agents operating between Nigeria and the Middle East, deceived with promises of legitimate work opportunities. They were intercepted based on a tip-off from concerned partners who noticed the suspicious behavior of the girls and the traffickers in the airport departure lounge. When questioned, the girls gave identical responses, further raising suspicions.

Binta Bello, the Director General of NAPTIP, who witnessed the interception of the first five victims while traveling to Adamawa, expressed outrage over the traffickers’ deceptive practices and urged parents and guardians to remain vigilant against such exploitation.

Bello explained that the trafficking operation violated Nigeria’s Trafficking in Persons (Control of Activities of Organisations and Centres) Regulations 2019, which mandates that all travel agents and labor recruiters be officially licensed by the authorities.

Concerns Over Exploitation and Deceptive Promises

Bello also highlighted the dangers of undocumented labor recruitment. The victims, issued with 60-day visas, had signed two-year contracts for domestic work in Iraq, a situation that left them vulnerable to exploitation once their visas expired. They were promised a monthly salary of $250 but were required to remit a portion of their pay to agents both in Nigeria and Iraq.

According to NAPTIP’s investigations, many of the victims were paid irregularly, often receiving wages for only a few months out of their two-year contracts. Worse still, when they demanded payment, they were met with resistance or outright refusal from their employers.

Bello lamented the dire circumstances faced by those trafficked to volatile, war-torn countries such as Iraq, warning that many victims return home with serious medical conditions or permanent scars inflicted by their exploiters.

NAPTIP’s Continued Commitment to Combat Human Trafficking

In a statement, the Director General reiterated NAPTIP’s commitment to dismantling trafficking networks, particularly targeting unregistered labor recruiters. She also acknowledged the cooperation of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport management, airline officials, and other law enforcement agencies in the successful interception of the victims.

“We are working tirelessly to identify and bring to justice the criminals behind these trafficking rings,” Bello said. “We also call on the public to stay informed and report suspicious activities to prevent further exploitation.”

NAPTIP’s efforts remain a critical part of Nigeria’s ongoing fight against human trafficking, which continues to plague vulnerable individuals, particularly young women and girls.