NAPTIP Rescues 24 Victims, Arrests Traffickers in Major Abuja Airport Human Trafficking Bust
Story: written by Daniel October 2,2025
The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) has dismantled a major human trafficking syndicate at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, rescuing 24 victims and arresting five suspected traffickers.
NAPTIP’s Director-General, Binta Adamu Bello, personally led the six-hour operation on Wednesday after receiving credible intelligence about the arrival of traffickers and their victims.
According to NAPTIP spokesperson, Vincent Adekoye, one of the suspects is a retired senior security officer believed to be a key figure in the trafficking network. The syndicate had allegedly been recruiting young people from multiple states across the South-West.
The victims, aged between 15 and 26, were lured with false promises of lucrative jobs abroad. They were recruited from Kano, Katsina, Oyo, Ondo, and Rivers States, with their intended destinations including Iraq, Sudan, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and Afghanistan.
Some of the victims revealed that their own family members encouraged them to embark on the journey, while others admitted they were deceived into believing they were traveling to Europe for better opportunities.
DG Bello condemned the increasing activities of human traffickers exploiting the desperation of young Nigerians. She emphasized that NAPTIP would strengthen surveillance not only at airports but also at motor parks and coastal routes where traffickers often operate.
She assured that all suspects would face prosecution, while the rescued victims would receive counseling, rehabilitation, and reintegration support to help them rebuild their lives.
