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NAPTIP Storms Abuja Airport, Arrests Five Suspected Human Traffickers, Frees 24 Victims
NAPTIP Storms Abuja Airport, Arrests Five Suspected Human Traffickers, Frees 24 Victims
By: Michael Mike
The Director General of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), Binta Bello, OON has led a high-powered special operation at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, during which 24 suspected victims of human trafficking were rescued and arrest of five suspected trafficking agents was made.
According to a statement on Wednesday by the agency’s National Press Officer, Vincent Adekoye, among the suspected human traffickers arrested at the airport was a retired Senior uniform Officer with one of the foremost Law Enforcement Agency in the country, who is alleged to be a prominent member of the trafficking syndicate operating within the South West region of Nigeria.
He said: “The well-planned action, which was hailed by other travelers at the airport, was a continuation of the newly unveiled anti-human trafficking efforts and onslaught against human trafficking by the Director General, targeting recruitment hubs, trafficking spots, and routes within Nigeria.”
Adekoye recalled that following reported increased cases of recruitment and trafficking of Nigerians for various forms of exploitation both within and outside the country, the Director General of NAPTIP had few months ago ordered a step up surveillance and monitoring of all parts of the country with greater attention on motor parks, waterways in the coaster States as well as International airports.
He disclosed that the latest raid followed a tip-off from concerned stakeholders and partners who alerted to an influx of suspected human trafficking victims at the Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport, Abuja, and the unwholesome activities of some suspected traffickers.
Adekoye said at the end of nearly six hours of operation, the human trafficking activities were completely disrupted,leading to the arrest of five suspected traffickers and the rescue of 24 suspected victims.
He said the victims whose ages range between 15 years to 26 years were recruited from Kano, Kastina, Oyo, Ondo and Rivers States, and were heading to Iraq, Sudan, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and Afghanistan.
He noted that while a good number of the suspected victims could not communicate in any other language apart from their dialect, others do not even know the location of their intended country of destination.
He quoted one of the them to have said: “They told my mother that they are taking me to Europe, where I will work and earn dollars. My parent were happy and they allowed me to follow them.”
Adekoye said it was another mild drama at the Headquarters of NAPTIP as one of the victims vowed to ensure the prosecution of her father for deceiving her into embarking on the journey.
He revealed that the drama ensued after the Director General had personally counseled the suspected victims and enlightened them with a series of video clips of some stranded Nigerians and those on life support after being exploited at the destination countries.
The particular suspected victim was quoted to have said: “I struggled to hold my emotions while watching the video of those girls who were being maltreated and beaten by the traffickers. If that is what awaits me there, I will not go. I am seriously annoyed with my father because he deceived me. My father told me that his friend has a job for me at a supermarket in Baghdad. He did not tell me that it is in Iraq. I know that Iraq is not a good place to work for now to work due to the crisis there, but I did not know that Baghdad is in Iraq. I thank the DG and her officers for rescuing me, pls, I just need my passport, I want to go back to my town and settle.
“I will certainly make it here rather than suffer in another country”, the victim, whose father was among the traffickers arrested, added in her local dialect.
Speaking on the development, the Director General of NAPTIP, Binta Bello, expressed sadness over the activities of some suspected human traffickers and unregistered labour recruiters who have continued to deceive, recruit, and traffic Nigerians for various forms of exploitation.
She said: “I am impressed with the outcome of the operation today because we were able to arrest five suspected members of the trafficking gang that have been recruiting and trafficking our citizens to various tension-soaked countries, especially in the Middle East, for exploitation.
“We observed that the Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport is becoming a comfort zone for these traffickers, and that is why we have decided to shift attention to this airport. We will sustain this raid until they stop this unpatriotic and illicit trade in human beings.
“I was amazed that a father, who is a retired Law Enforcement Officer of senior cadre, deceived his daughter and packaged her to be trafficked to Iraq for exploitation. This is incredibly unbelievable. Well, all of them will be thoroughly investigated, and they will face the law.
“I sincerely thank and appreciate the Director General of the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), the Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport Manager, and all the wonderful personnel of the authority for their support for us at NAPTIP. I also appreciate the collaboration of the Department of State Service (DSS) operatives at the Airport, the Airport Security Personnel, Immigration Officers,, and airline operators for their support.
“Human trafficking is a visible national concern, and we all must be on the same page to turn the heat on the traffickers. Our resolve to ensure the protection of Nigerians from all forms of exploitation is firm and resolute”, the Director General of NAPTIP declared.
NAPTIP Storms Abuja Airport, Arrests Five Suspected Human Traffickers, Frees 24 Victims
Zulum Approves ₦1 Billion for New Agric University’s Take Off
By: Our Reporter
Borno State Governor, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum, has approved ₦1 billion for the immediate commencement of the Federal University of Agriculture and Entrepreneurship in Bama.
Governor Zulum announced the donation on Monday while receiving an inter-ministerial delegation on an assessment visit to the Government House.
The team included officials from the Federal Ministry of Education, the National Universities Commission, the Budget Office, and the Office of the Head of Service.
The institution was established after a bill sponsored by Senator Kaka Shehu Lawan was signed into law by the President on May 22, 2025.
Governor Zulum had previously handed over the existing Umar Ibn Ibrahim Elkanemi College of Education, Science and Technology in Bama to the federal government to facilitate a quick start of academic activities.
“I want to announce the donation of ₦1 billion for the take off of the University,” Zulum stated. “I hereby direct the Commissioner for Education to facilitate the process and identify the immediate priority areas and gaps to channel the resources.”
He explained the state’s proactive role, saying, “The federal government announced the establishment of the university, but the state has to provide the enabling environment for the immediate take off of the institution.”
“Although the institution belongs to the federal government, the services that would be rendered is for the good people of Borno State,” he added. “For me, every federal institution, especially the tertiary institutions belong to Borno State government.”
The governor also promised to construct staff quarters and provide additional support.
He commended President Bola Tinubu, Vice President Kashim Shettima, sponsor of the bill, Senator Kaka Shehu Lawan, minister of education for ensuring that the university becomes a reality.
Leader of the federal delegation, who is also the Director of University Education at the Federal Ministry of Education, Hajiya Rakiya Gambo Iliyasu, reported that the team was impressed after inspecting the Bama facility.
“Your Excellency, the team went round the institution this morning and what we saw was quite encouraging,” Rakiya said. “We can tell His Excellency that the institution has everything it needs to take off.”
She confirmed that the institution is ready to begin operations and that the team would proceed with staff verification.
The event was attended by the Deputy Governor, Hon. Umar Usman Kadafur; Senator representing Borno Central, Senator Kaka Shehu Lawan, SAN; Member representing Monguno, Marte and Nganzai federal constituency, Hon. Bukar Talba; Acting Chief of Staff, Dr Babagana Malumbe; other members of the State Executive Council as well as Special Advisers.
Zulum Approves ₦1 Billion for New Agric University’s Take Off
45 kidnapped victims regain freedom under peace accord in Katsina
By: Zagazola Makama
Forty-five kidnapped persons have been released from captivity in Bakori Local Government Area of Katsina State following engagements under the Operation Safe Corridor peace accord.
The victims, comprising men and women abducted from Guga in Doguwar Dorawa Fulani settlement camp and Gidan Danmayaki villages, were freed on Monday through a negotiation channel linked to a bandit leader identified as Isiya Kwashen Garwa.
Zagazola Makama report that the victims regained freedom at about 1400hrs and were immediately received by the member representing Bakori Constituency in the Katsina State House of Assembly.
The lawmaker transferred the victims to the Comprehensive Health Centre, Bakori, where medical personnel conducted evaluations to ascertain their physical condition after prolonged captivity.
Authorities said the freed hostages have since been reunited with their families.
Security personnel and community leaders are maintaining close monitoring as part of efforts to consolidate the peace process and prevent further attacks.
45 kidnapped victims regain freedom under peace accord in Katsina
News
Propcom+, Welcome2Africa International target £5 million investments into Nigeria’s agricultural sector
Propcom+, Welcome2Africa International target £5 million investments into Nigeria’s agricultural sector
The UK Government, through its climate-smart agriculture programme, Propcom+ in collaboration with Welcome2Africa International, is spearheading a Strategic Agribusiness Deal Room designed to mobilise private capital into Nigeria’s agricultural value chains while supporting inclusive, market-led economic transformation.
This initiative underscores the UK’s commitment to strengthening agribusiness value chains, fostering sustainable partnerships, and driving inclusive economic growth across Nigeria.
Positioned as a high-impact investment marketplace, the Deal Room, which will be held from November 18 to 19, 2025, in Lagos, is expected to unlock over £5 million in potential investment and trade commitments, featuring more than 20 pre-vetted, investment-ready agribusinesses.
These enterprises operate across priority sectors, including grains, cassava and starch derivatives, livestock, bioethanol, food processing, mechanisation, agri-tech, and renewable energy, all demonstrating clear growth pathways, commercial traction, and scalability.
“The Deal Room represents a strategic opportunity to accelerate private investment into Nigeria’s agrifood sector and deepen the pipeline of climate-smart, inclusive enterprises,” Olumide Ojo, Propcom+’s Strategy Director, noted.
“By connecting high-potential SMEs with investors, we aim to drive capital mobilisation that strengthens market systems, improves resilience, and expands economic opportunities for farmers, women, and rural communities.”
Echoing the investment rationale, Welcome2Africa International CEO, Bamidele Seun Owoola, reinforced the platform’s role in facilitating cross-border capital flows.
“At Welcome2Africa International, our focus is to catalyse sustainable investment into Africa’s agrifood sector. Co-hosting the Deal Room with Propcom+ presents a unique opportunity to position Nigeria’s most promising agribusinesses before global investors. This platform is fundamentally about unlocking capital and forging long-term investment partnerships that deliver shared prosperity.”
The Deal Room forms part of Propcom+’s broader mandate to strengthen Nigeria’s agricultural markets, empower SMEs, and drive low-carbon, climate-smart growth. Following the event, Propcom+ will continue to support participating enterprises through technical assistance, investor engagement, due diligence, and transaction facilitation, advancing businesses toward investment closure.
Propcom+, Welcome2Africa International target £5 million investments into Nigeria’s agricultural sector
Zulum Approves ₦1 Billion for New Agric University’s Take Off
45 kidnapped victims regain freedom under peace accord in Katsina
Propcom+, Welcome2Africa International target £5 million investments into Nigeria’s agricultural sector
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