Crime
NAPTIP Intercepts 13 Victims of Human Trafficking at Abuja Airport
NAPTIP Intercepts 13 Victims of Human Trafficking at Abuja Airport
… Seals Up Hotel in Abuja, Rescues 11 Underaged Victims of Sexual Exploitation
By: Michael Mike
The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) with the support of Partners, has intercepted 13 girls suspected to be victims of human trafficking en route to Baghdad, Iraq for sexual and labour exploitation.
A statement by the spokesman of the agency, Vincent Adekoye on Tuesday read that the girls whose ages range between 19 and 39 years old were allegedly deceived and recruited by some faceless unregistered Labour Recruiters who are suspected to be agents of a larger criminal labour recruiting gang operating between Nigeria and some Middle East countries.
Adekoye said the victims were incepted at the Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport, Abuja, shortly before departing for Iraq.
He said similarly, the operatives of the agency have sealed up a popular three star hotel located at the ever-busy Kwali, in Kwali area council of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, and rescued 11 underaged girls suspected of use for sexual expedition.
Adekoye said luck ran out of on the owner of the hotel as she was arrested while other supporting staff escaped, noting that the development came barely one month after operatives of NAPTIP burst a private apartment located inside one of the highbrow estates in the heart of Abuja and rescued nine pregnant girls suspected to be victims of human trafficking.
He stated that the interception of the Iraq-bound girls followed a tip-off by some concerned partners who noticed the unusual movement of some unknown faces at the departure lounge of the Abuja Airport in the company of some timidly looking girls all chorusing the same answer to different questions about their destination, and immediately alerted the agency.
Speaking on the incident, the Director General of NAPTIP, Binta Bello, who witnessed the interception of the first batch of five girls at the Airport on her way out of Abuja for an official duty to Adamawa, expressed displeasure over the level of deceit by the traffickers and called on parents and guardian to always be careful of fake promises for their children and wards.
Shel said: “I wish to point out that our action is in line with the provision of the Trafficking in Persons (Control of Activities of Organisations and Centres) Regulations 2019, which empowers NAPTIP to issue clearance certificates to all travel agents or tour operators and intending travellers for the purpose of Educational excursions, Recruitment for Labour, Sporting activities, Cultural, music excursions or competitions as well as all organisations, shelters, and homes offering services for the purpose of rehabilitation of trafficked persons.
“The case at hand is pathetic because these girls were deceived and recruited for a supposed job in Baghdad by unlicensed labour recruiters who are not known to any constituted authority in Nigeria. This implies that should anything happen to these girls; we will not be able to hold anyone responsible because they are undocumented labourers.
Also, they were issued 60 days visa and yet signed a labour agreement of two years with them, noting that the implication of this is that as soon as the visa expires, they are at the mercy of the master and lose all legal rights to demand anything including their legitimate salary.
“Investigation revealed that they will be paid a sum of 250 dollars as monthly salary by their tax master out of which they will remit four months’ salary to the agent here in Nigeria and another huge sum to the agent in Iraq.
“From the testimonies of scores of victims who passed through the same condition, they were never paid regularly as expected, maybe four or five months only for the agreed contract period of two years. In fact, the major issue with their master is when they ask for their salary to be paid.
“It is painful that while unspecified numbers of victims are in those volatile and war-torn destination countries seeking help to be rescued, these are happily embarking on a journey to the unknown.
“We are seriously worried about the situation because some who were rescued recently came home with life-threatening medical conditions while others escaped with a life-threatening wound and everlasting scars inflicted on them by their masters.
“We cannot close our eyes and allow these ones to join the statistics of stranded victims who will are calling on social media for help. We are also on the lookout for the unscrupulous unregistered recruiters who are behind all these scenarios.
“While sincerely appreciating the Management of the Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport with particular reference to the airport manager and his security personnel, the officials of the various airlines and sister law enforcement agencies who provided one form of assistance or the other to us, I wish to sue for more cooperation to rescue these girls from the deceit of the mindless traffickers”, the Director General said.
NAPTIP Intercepts 13 Victims of Human Trafficking at Abuja Airport
Troops arrest 13 suspected illegal miners at newly excavated site in Abuja
By: Zagazola Makama
Troops of the Nigerian Army under Operation MESA have arrested 13 suspected illegal miners at a newly excavated mining site in the Shere general area of Bwari Area Council, Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Security sources said the suspects were apprehended at about 3:30 p.m. on Nov. 10, 2026, by troops of the 7 Guards Battalion during an operation in the area.
The suspects were reportedly found at a newly excavated site suspected to be operating illegally.
The 13 suspects are currently in military custody for further action.
The operation forms part of ongoing efforts by security forces to curb illegal mining activities, prevent the exploitation of mineral resources by unauthorised operators and address associated security concerns within the FCT.
Troops arrest 13 suspected illegal miners at newly excavated site in Abuja
Three killed in attack on illegal mining site in Plateau
By: Zagazola Makama
Three people have been killed in an attack on an illegal mining site between Jol and Tashek communities in Riyom Local Government Area of Plateau State.
Security sources said the incident occurred at about 8:10 p.m. on Nov. 10, prompting troops of Sector 6, Operation Enduring Peace (OPEP), deployed at Dakku, to respond to the distress report.
The troops, upon arrival at the scene, discovered that members of the community had evacuated three bodies of victims killed during the attack.
Efforts are ongoing to track down the assailants, with troops deploying an EIB Stratoc drone to support surveillance and intelligence gathering around the area.
The troops have also intensified patrols and maintained an aggressive security presence in the general area to prevent further attacks.
The incident comes amid recurring security concerns around illegal mining sites in parts of Plateau State, where disputes over access to mineral resources and control of mining locations have reportedly triggered violent confrontations.
There have been instances in which illegal miners allegedly attack one another over control of mining resources, while other incidents have involved armed groups reportedly targeting mining locations.
In some cases, suspected Fulani armed bandits have also been accused of attacking illegal mining sites, allegedly using such locations to carry out revenge attacks.
However, the circumstances surrounding the latest incident, including the identities of the attackers and their motive, remain unclear.
The recurring violence point to the need for stronger security measures and effective enforcement against illegal mining, which has increasingly become a source of criminal activity, economic exploitation and insecurity in parts of the state.
Security agencies are working to establish the circumstances of the attack and bring those responsible to justice.
Three killed in attack on illegal mining site in Plateau
Troops, hunters neutralise ISWAP terrorist in ambush operation in Yobe
By: Zagazola Makama
Troops of the Nigerian Army’s 27 Task Force Brigade, Operation Hadin Kai, in collaboration with local hunters, have neutralised a suspected Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorist during an ambush operation in Gujba Local Government Area of Yobe State.
Security sources said the operation was part of ongoing efforts by troops and local security partners to dismantle terrorist networks and restrict their movements within the area.
The joint team reportedly laid an ambush on the suspected terrorists, leading to the neutralisation of one ISWAP fighter.
Troops, hunters neutralise ISWAP terrorist in ambush operation in Yobe
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