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Waziri-Azu: NAPTIP Would Continue to Improve Operational Horizon

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Waziri-Azu: NAPTIP Would Continue to Improve Operational Horizon

By: Michael Mike

The Director General of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), Prof. Fatima Waziri – Azi has assured that the agency will continue to expand its operational horizon through improved partnership, enhanced partnership with all stakeholders as well as diligent prosecution of offenders, to outsmart the criminal elements.

The Director General also cautioned desperate Nigerians against indiscriminate migration in the name of the popular “Japa” so as not to be enslaved by migrant smugglers who are poised at preying on their ignorance and vulnerability with the attendance consequences of mindless exploitation.

Waziri – Azi, stated this on the Special Edition of the online interactive programme tagged “Conversation with NAPTIP”, put together as part of the activities to mark the 20th Anniversary of the establishment of the agency and the 2023 World Day Against Human Trafficking.

Conversation with NAPTIP is a specially designed platform that promotes mutual interaction between the agency and stakeholders for the purpose of enlightenment and feedback engagement in order to improve service delivery.

The Director General disclosed some of the modest achievements of the agency within the past 20 years to include the conviction of 624 traffickers, the rescue of over 22,000 victims of trafficking, sponsoring of 19 survivors through University Education, development of several counter–trafficking policies, engagement with diverse stakeholders including the Justice sector through the National Judicial Institute (NJI) and global partnership with critical partners to counter the emerging trends in human trafficking.

On the dynamism of human trafficking in Nigeria and the response of the agency in tackling them, Waziri – Azi reiterated that human trafficking has assumed a national spread across the country with the emerging trends including an increase in online catfishing of youngsters by traffickers, fake job offers and advertorials, fake scholarship offers increase trafficking under cover of sporting activities, orphanage trafficking as well as buying and selling of babies.

She said: “In the past 20 years, the crime of human trafficking has evolved in terms of trends and patterns. But, one thing I can say for sure is that Nigeria is better poised to tackle the issues of human trafficking.”

She added that through partnerships with global anti-trafficking Law Enforcement Agencies and corporate bodies such as Meta, owner of Facebook, and the National Centre for Missing and Exploited Children, the Agency has been able to tackle them effectively.

On the nagging issues of mass exodus of Nigeria abroad, the Director General who appreciated the concerns and plights of Nigerians who daily seek alternative places to settle outside the country, urged them to be mindful of the Red Flag associated with human trafficking in order to avoid exploitation.

She said: “If you must Japa, Japa the right way. Migrate legally. Nobody is saying you should not travel. Nobody is saying you should not aspire more than what you are now. But, the point is, you have to do your homework. You have to do your research. You must ask the right questions.
And this attitude of Nigerians going through a middle person, people must learn to own the process.

“You must know the red flags. When someone tells you that he wants to sponsor you abroad and the next thing is that he starts manipulating your personal information on your passport. They change your name, they changed your age, they changed your date of birth, that is a red flag. Or when someone tells you that I want to take you to Italy and the next thing is that you see yourself in a bus going to Seme border or you see yourself going through Jibia border, that in itself is a red flag.”

Waziri – Azi while expressing appreciation to all partners for their sustained support and collaboration with the agency since its creation, declared that her projection is to place the agency on a sound pedestal as a foremost counter trafficking agency within the comity of nations through the potent implementation of all the relevant laws and ensuring that Nigeria is safe from all forms of trafficking and exploitation.

The online engagement provided an opportunity for many partners within and outside the country to ask questions about the activities of the agency.

Waziri-Azu: NAPTIP Would Continue to Improve Operational Horizon

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Two Forest Security Guard Members arrested in Ogun for extortion, illegal possession of firearms

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Two Forest Security Guard Members arrested in Ogun for extortion, illegal possession of firearms

By: Zagazola Makama

Two men claiming to be members of the Nigeria Forest Security Services (NFSS) have been arrested in Sagamu, Ogun State, for illegal possession of firearms and extortion of motorists.

Zagazola Makama report that the arrest was made on Dec. 28, 2025, at about 8:32 p.m. following a report that three men dressed in security uniforms were sighted along Ikenne Road, near the NYSC Orientation Camp, collecting money from motorists while visibly armed with hunter-style guns.

Upon receiving the information, operatives from the Sagamu Division raced to the scene and apprehended two suspects: Emmanuel Idu, 55, and Sunday Moses, 35. A third suspect, identified as Oyilo David, 35, fled the scene and is currently at large.

During preliminary interrogation, the arrested men claimed to be attached to the Sagamu NFSS unit operating along Agbele Road by Otunba Gbenga Daniel Market. They also stated that the locally fabricated guns recovered from them were issued by a Commander Kehinde Joseph, allegedly supervising their operations.

In addition to the firearms, security operatives recovered one unexpended cartridge and the sum of ₦1,000 in ₦200 denominations from the suspects.

Authorities disclosed that one of the suspects had previously been implicated in a motorcycle theft case in Abeokuta, where the stolen motorcycle was recovered, and charges were filed in court.

The suspects have been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department (SCIID), Abeokuta, for further investigation.

Two Forest Security Guard Members arrested in Ogun for extortion, illegal possession of firearms

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Troops neutralise key Boko Haram commanders in Bama airstrikes

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Troops neutralise key Boko Haram commanders in Bama airstrikes

By: Zagazola Makama

Troops of Operation Hadin Kai, supported by Nigerian Army and Nigerian Air Force platforms, have neutralised several key Boko Haram terrorist commanders during coordinated airstrikes in Bama Local Government Area of Borno State.

Sources told Zagazola Makama that the airstrikes were conducted on Dec. 25, 2025, following actionable human intelligence on terrorist movements in the area.

According to the sources, no fewer than 10 Boko Haram terrorists were killed in the initial airstrike. Those neutralised included Abul Kaka, Ibn Mu’azu, Abu Muhammad, Ba Alhaji, Bakura, Modu, Abu Hassan, Kaka Alai, Abba Yakariye and Bamusa.

The sources further disclosed that another terrorist, identified as Ubaida, sustained serious injuries during the strike.

The sources added that a subsequent follow-up strike by Nigerian Air Force assets led to the instant killing of three additional terrorists.

Security sources confirmed that the majority of the neutralised fighters were loyal to Bafu, a notorious Boko Haram commander operating in the Bama axis.

An assessment of the operation indicated a significant degradation of Boko Haram’s fighting capability in Bama, particularly among elements under Bafu’s command, as a direct outcome of the sustained air campaign.

The sources noted that while the general security situation in the area remains calm, it is still considered unpredictable due to the fluid nature of insurgent activities.

Troops neutralise key Boko Haram commanders in Bama airstrikes

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IPOB attack Enugu police patrol team, kill two officers and seize firearms

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IPOB attack Enugu police patrol team, kill two officers and seize firearms

By: Zagazola Makama

Two police inspectors have been killed and three rifles stolen following an attack on a Distress Response Squad (DRS) patrol along Zik Avenue by Good Shepherd Specialist Hospital in Enugu State.

Zagazola gathered that the incident occurred at about 8:30 p.m. on Dec. 27, 2025, when six armed men, suspected to be members of IPOB/ESN, operating in an ash-coloured Lexus RX 350 SUV, attacked and set ablaze the patrol Hilux vehicle.

The sources identified the slain officers as Inspectors Valentine Iheme and Ani Anayo, both members of the DRS team. The assailants carted away three AK-47 rifles with 30 rounds of live ammunition each.

According to the sources, all tactical teams and assets of the command have been activated and deployed in pursuit of the suspects, with a view to neutralising them and recovering the stolen firearms.

The sources said that the Enugu State Police Command has vowed to bring the perpetrators to justice.

IPOB attack Enugu police patrol team, kill two officers and seize firearms

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