NAPTIP rescues 13 Iraq-bound trafficking victims at NAIA
The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) recently intercepted 13 girls, aged between 19 and 39, who were suspected to be victims of human trafficking en route to Baghdad.
The interception occurred at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA) in Abuja.
According to a statement from NAPTIP’s spokesman, Vincent Adekoye, the girls were allegedly deceived and recruited by unregistered labor recruiters who are believed to be linked to a larger criminal network operating between Nigeria and several Middle Eastern countries.
The interception followed a tip-off from concerned partners who noticed unusual activity at the departure lounge of the NAIA. NAPTIP’s Director-General, Hajia Binta Adamu-Bello, who was present at the scene, expressed her concerns over the growing deceitful tactics used by traffickers. She urged parents and guardians to be cautious of fake promises made to their children and wards.
Adamu-Bello explained that NAPTIP’s actions were in accordance with the Trafficking in Persons (Control of Activities of Organisations and Centres) Regulations 2019, which allows the agency to issue clearance certificates to travel agents, tour operators, and organizations involved in recruitment for educational, labor, and cultural activities.
She emphasized the importance of these regulations in preventing the exploitation of vulnerable individuals.
The case was especially troubling because the girls had been deceived into accepting jobs in Baghdad by unlicensed recruiters, leaving them undocumented and vulnerable. As a result, if anything were to happen to them, no one could be held accountable.
The girls had been given 60-day visas but had signed labor contracts for two years. This situation put them at the mercy of their employers once their visas expired, stripping them of any legal rights, including the right to claim their salaries.
Further investigation revealed that the girls were promised a monthly salary of $250, but a significant portion of their earnings—four months’ worth of salary—would be sent to agents both in Nigeria and Iraq. Past victims of similar schemes reported inconsistent payment, sometimes receiving only partial payments for the agreed-upon contract period. Many of these victims faced serious difficulties when trying to claim their earned wages, particularly from employers who refused to pay them.
Adamu-Bello pointed out that the victims were often sent to volatile, war-torn regions where their lives were at risk. Some of those who had been rescued previously returned home with severe medical conditions or life-threatening injuries. Many of the victims now stranded in these countries were seeking help on social media, hoping to be rescued.
NAPTIP has intensified its efforts to locate and apprehend the unscrupulous recruiters behind these operations. The agency also commended the management and security personnel of Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, as well as officials from various airlines and law enforcement agencies, for their cooperation in preventing these girls from falling victim to trafficking.
In a separate development, NAPTIP operatives sealed a popular three-star hotel in Kwali, in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), after uncovering evidence that 11 underage girls were being exploited for sexual purposes. The hotel’s owner was arrested, though other staff members managed to escape.
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