The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) has launched an international manhunt for members of a human trafficking syndicate responsible for recruiting and exploiting Nigerian girls abroad, following the safe return of 78 victims from Côte d’Ivoire.
Director General of NAPTIP, Binta Adamu Bello, gave the assurance in Lagos on Saturday while receiving the victims, who were rescued and evacuated with the support of international partners and flown into Nigeria aboard an Air Peace aircraft.
The operation, which brought home 75 female adults aged 13 to 30, three babies, and two male adults, was initiated after popular social media influencer Vincent Otse (aka VeryDarkMan) raised alarm about the plight of stranded Nigerian girls in Abidjan. Acting swiftly, NAPTIP operatives arrested two key suspects linked to the trafficking ring in a high-profile raid on a mansion in Lugbe, Abuja.
Following intelligence-sharing with partners in Abidjan, authorities identified, profiled, and rescued the victims, who arrived at Lagos’ Murtala Muhammed International Airport around 10:45 pm Saturday. They were received by NAPTIP’s Director General alongside the Chairman of Air Peace, Mr. Allen Onyema.
“This marks not only the safe return of our daughters but a reaffirmation of our unwavering commitment to the fight against human trafficking,” Bello declared. “To the perpetrators, know this: Nigeria will never relent in pursuing justice. There is no hiding place for traffickers.”
Bello confirmed that profiling, medical checks, counselling, and skills acquisition support would be provided to the returnees, adding that the agency would intensify efforts to track and prosecute all those involved.
Air Peace Chairman Onyema, who sponsored both the evacuation and medical care of the victims, stated his commitment to supporting their rehabilitation. “I decided to fly them home free of charge to help them overcome their ordeal and start afresh,” Onyema said.
Many of the victims showed signs of severe exploitation and trauma, with four underaged girls reportedly pregnant. One of the survivors, Clara (not her real name), recounted the horrors she endured. “I saw hell in Abidjan. Human life meant nothing to those madams. But today, I feel hopeful again thanks to NAPTIP and Air Peace,” she said.
NAPTIP has reaffirmed its resolve to continue combating human trafficking, protect survivors, and ensure traffickers face the full weight of the law.
