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NAPTIP Commences Rehabilitation of Victims of Human Trafficking

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NAPTIP Commences Rehabilitation of Victims of Human Trafficking

By: Michael
Mike

The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) has commenced comprehensive rehabilitation procedure and interview session with the rescued victims of human trafficking, Miss Odunayo Isaac, who arrived Nigeria from Iraq few days ago.

The session commenced on the order of the
Director General of the agency Binta Bello, who directed Officers of the Counselling and Rehabilitation Department of the Agency as well as Operatives of the Intelligence and International Cooperation Unit (IICU) to immediately undertake the procedures while receiving the victim.

It would be recalled that NAPTIP, in collaboration with other partners, including members of the Civil Society Organisation and foreign agencies, had facilitated Miss Eniola Isaac’s return from Baghdad following a viral video and media reports that escalated her ordeal in the hands of the Iraqi taskmaster.

The victim arrived in Nigeria through the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport and was received by NAPTIP Operatives after the initial arrival procedures by the Officials of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) on duty at the airport.

Speaking while receiving the victim at the agency headquarters, Abuja, the Director General expressed sadness over the traumatic experience and the hardship faced by the victim and ordered the immediate commencement of a comprehensive rehabilitation programme, counseling as well as an interview to ascertain the medical status, nature of assistance needed, and immediate psychosocial need of the victim.

The Director General said: “I just finished interaction with the victim. I must say that she had a close shave with death and we are all happy that she is alive to tell her painful story.

“On 22nd January 2023, she left Nigeria and arrived in Baghdad, Iraq the next day; 23rd January 2023 and was received at the Airport by officials of WB Warani Manpower (Company she was registered to work for). She was taken to the hospital on the 24th January 2023 to certify her medically fit for the job she would be assigned to do.

“Her Iraqi agent; Alhaja Shakirat Yusuf whom she knows as only ‘Mama Uganda’ came to WB Warani Manpower to sign her in officially on the 25th January 2023 and was assigned to work for an Iraqi family of eight (six children and two parents) on 29th of January 2023. Her work hours span about twenty hours plus a day, with little or no resting time.

“According to Miss Odunayo, after one month of work, she requested her salary and her madam said that, because of the high commission in paying money into Nigeria accounts, she would be paid every two months and she agreed, but after four months, and she still was not paid. Her ordeal then began when she dared to request payment.

“Her phone was confiscated to prevent communication with members of her family. Each time she asked for her remuneration or spoke about it, she suffered a beating resulting in bleeding and bodily injuries. That, at one point, her madam bound her hands and feet and threw her into the dogs’ cage until 3 am before she was released to continue with her work.

“Because of her level of exploitation and trauma, I have directed the relevant department and operatives of the agency to commence immediate profiling, interview, and the comprehensive process of rehabilitation for her. This is to enable the agency to assess her medical status, the nature of assistance and skills needed, and to design a part of ensuring her reunion with her family.”

The DG assured that: “Also, NAPTIP shall also do the needful to ensure justice for her.

“I wish to use this opportunity to thank all our partners, the Federal Ministry of Foreign, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), Nigeria Intelligence Agency (NIA), Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), Embassies and Nigeria Mission abroad, other partnering Ministry, Department and Agencies (MDAs), Hope Haven Foundation, the Media and other stakeholders, for a successful collaboration and support which resulted in the eventual arrival of Miss Eniola Isaac.”

She however added that: “It is also important to advise our youths and parents to always be careful and think twice before jumping at any juicy offer of jobs abroad. Over the past few months, we have intercepted scores of youths, mostly girls, at various points of exit across Nigeria, and their destinations have been some of the volatile countries in the Middle East.

“Certainly, a dangerous journey of this nature could have been avoided with simple caution and a check from NAPTIP.”

In her testimony, Miss Eniola Isaac, said, “I thank God that I am alive. I will not wish that my enemy passes through what I experienced. I never thought I could survive the painful ordeal”, she recalled with a bitter countenance.

NAPTIP Commences Rehabilitation of Victims of Human Trafficking

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RHI Presents Food Items to Vulnerable Groups in Yobe State

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RHI Presents Food Items to Vulnerable Groups in Yobe State


…Making it the 20th State to Benefit from the Support

By: Our Reporter

The Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI) Food Outreach Program, launched in Abuja in March 2024 to provide monthly support to vulnerable groups and persons with disabilities, has reached Yobe State—making it the 20th state to benefit from the initiative.
Since its inception, the program has covered Abia, Adamawa, Benue, Borno, Cross River, Delta, Edo, Ekiti, Enugu, Gombe, Kaduna, Kano, Kogi, Kwara, Lagos, Nasarawa, Oyo, Plateau, and Sokoto States before arriving in Yobe.
With generous support from the Abdul Samad Rabiu Africa Initiative (ASR Africa) and another industrialist who prefers to remain anonymous, assorted food items were delivered, bringing relief to many households, particularly those with disabilities.


The First Lady and Chairman of the Renewed Hope Initiative, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, noted that donors provide two truckloads of food items to each beneficiary state for onward distribution. Represented by the Wife of the Vice President, Hajiya Nana Shettima, she highlighted Yobe as a major beneficiary of RHI programs and interventions.
These include:

  • The Tony Elumelu Foundation Women Economists Empowerment Program, which supported 500 women with ₦50,000 each.
  • The RHI Women Agricultural Support Scheme, where 20 women received ₦500,000 each.
  • A ₦68.9 million grant from the Federal Ministry of Agriculture to the Young Farmers Club.
  • Annual financial support to senior citizens, with 100 beneficiaries receiving ₦100,000 each in 2023 and 250 beneficiaries receiving ₦200,000 each.
  • A ₦50 million financial grant to 1,000 petty traders.
  • The Women in ICT Program, aimed at empowering women in the digital economy.
    According to Senator Tinubu, these interventions are designed to complement the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
    Yobe State Governor, Mai Mala Buni represented by his Deputy Governor, Alhaji Idi Barde Gubana reaffirmed his government’s commitment to the initiative, noting that the state has aligned with RHI through various empowerment programs for women, children, and vulnerable groups. These include the distribution of household items, skill acquisition schemes, and post-insurgency recovery programs that have economically empowered many women.

  • The State Coordinator of RHI and Wife of the Yobe State Governor, Hajiya Hafsat Kollere Buni, expressed gratitude to the First Lady for extending such impactful support to Yobe State. She also looked forward to stronger collaborations to further project the ideals of RHI and improve the lives of the people.
    Also present at the event was Dr. Ubong Udoh, Managing Director of the Abdul Samad Rabiu Africa Initiative, one of the key donors to the program.
  • RHI Presents Food Items to Vulnerable Groups in Yobe State
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Monguno says lack of national cohesion fuels insurgency

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Monguno says lack of national cohesion fuels insurgency

By: Zagazola Makama

Former National Security Adviser, Maj.-Gen. Babagana Monguno (rtd.), has warned that Nigeria’s fight against insurgency will remain elusive without national cohesion and a united front across society.

Monguno stated this in Abuja on Thursday at the launch of Scars: Nigeria’s Journey and the Boko Haram Conundrum, a new book authored by former Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Lucky Irabor (rtd.).

He said Boko Haram and other violent groups had thrived by exploiting Nigeria’s divisions, stressing that disunity among citizens, political actors, and institutions weakened the country’s capacity to defeat terrorism.

“Without national cohesion, insurgency will not end. Terrorists feed on our fault lines – ethnic, religious, political – and they weaponise them against us. If we remain divided, no amount of military might will deliver lasting peace,” Monguno said.

He urged Nigerians to rise above parochial sentiments and embrace a spirit of patriotism, solidarity, and common purpose. According to him, the fight against insurgency must go beyond the battlefield to include reconciliation, justice, and inclusive governance.

The retired General emphasised that the scars left by Boko Haram were not just physical but also psychological and social, making unity a vital condition for national healing.

“The book reminds us that security is not just the work of soldiers. It is the responsibility of leaders, institutions, and citizens. Unless we build cohesion, insurgency will continue to mutate in different forms,” he added.

Monguno commended Gen. Irabor for documenting his experience, describing the work as a guide that combines history, strategy, and national lessons for the future.

The event was attended by former Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo and Goodluck Jonathan, the Minister of Defence, service chiefs, traditional rulers, diplomats, and senior government officials.

Monguno says lack of national cohesion fuels insurgency

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Kukah says military operations alone cannot end insurgency, stresses soft power approach

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Kukah says military operations alone cannot end insurgency, stresses soft power approach

By: Zagazola Makama

The Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Most Rev. Matthew Hassan Kukah, has said Nigeria cannot defeat insurgency through military operations alone, stressing the need to embrace soft power and address root causes of insecurity.

Kukah made this known in Abuja on Thursday while reviewing Scars: Nigeria’s Journey and the Boko Haram Conundrum, a new book authored by former Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Lucky Irabor (rtd.).

He said the country’s reliance on military doctrines and repeated counter-insurgency operations had failed to produce lasting peace because Boko Haram represented an ideology, not just an armed threat.

“For years, we have had Operation Lafiya Dole, Operation Restore Order, Operation Hadin Kai, Operation Safe Haven, and many others. Yet, when one operation fails, another is launched. These operations have not ended the insurgency because you cannot fight an idea with weapons alone,” Kukah said.

The cleric argued that describing the insurgency only in military terms forecloses other sources of information and non-kinetic solutions that are critical to peacebuilding.

According to him, Boko Haram’s struggle is framed as a jihad, and many of its fighters see death as martyrdom, making them indifferent to conventional deterrence.

“The challenge before us is not merely about defeating insurgents on the battlefield, but about understanding the soft issues of life and death. Guns cannot build peace; soft power must complement military power,” he said.

Kukah pointed to chapters 11, 12 and 13 of Irabor’s book, which emphasise reconciliation, good governance, justice, and national healing as critical conditions for security.

He praised the author’s reflections for going beyond military strategy, describing them as “the writings of a priest” that call for dialogue, reforms and moral renewal.

The bishop added that Nigeria must prioritise structural reforms, political inclusion, patriotism, and judicial integrity to tackle grievances that feed extremism.

“The urgency now is to invest in soft power – in human development, reconciliation, and building trust in institutions. Military operations can only create space; it is ideas and justice that will sustain peace,” Kukah said.

The event attracted former Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo and Goodluck Jonathan, senior government officials, service chiefs, diplomats, and other dignitaries.
End

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