The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) has rescued 25 women from a suspected human trafficking operation in Abuja.
According to a statement by the agency’s spokesman, Vincent Adekoye, the women—believed to be victims of labour exploitation—were intercepted while on their way to Saudi Arabia. They had gathered in front of a popular hotel in Wuse II, Abuja, waiting for the trafficker who promised to facilitate their travel.
The women, aged between 17 and 43, revealed during questioning that they were recruited from Kano, Jigawa, and Katsina States. They were allegedly told that they would be taken to Saudi Arabia to work as domestic workers. One victim explained that agents had convinced her parents with promises of good pay and better opportunities abroad but admitted they were never given travel documents such as passports or visas.
Many of the women confessed it was their first time in Abuja and that they felt stranded after waiting for the supposed traffickers who failed to show up.
NAPTIP’s Director-General, Binta Bello, condemned the operation, warning that traffickers are increasingly using Abuja as a coordination hub for their illegal activities. She noted that victims often accept such offers without realizing the harsh realities of exploitation abroad.
Bello urged regulatory bodies, including the Association of Recruiters and Licensed Placement Agency of Nigeria, to strengthen oversight of recruitment and travel agencies, stressing that many unsuspecting victims are lured by false promises.
What you should know
NAPTIP’s intervention highlights the growing use of Abuja as a trafficking hub and the vulnerability of women lured by fake promises of overseas jobs.
Many of these victims risk falling into forced labour and exploitation abroad, making the crackdown a significant step in curbing human trafficking networks.
