NAPTIP Smashes Human Trafficking Syndicates in Katsina

By: Michael Mike

Operatives of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) have arrested three suspected members of inter–state human trafficking syndicates who specialized in the recruitment, harbouring and trafficking of young girls from other parts of the Country to the Northern Nigeria for sexual exploitation.

According to a statement by the press officer of NAPTIP, Vincent Adekoye, they were arrested inside one of the prominent hotels located in Katsina township (name withheld), with three suspected victims of human trafficking rescued during the operation.

He said the manager of the hotel and two other workers were arrested. Two of the victims are from Benue State and one from Rivers State, with their age ranges from 21 to 26 years old.

According to a preliminary investigation, the suspects were believed to be the major suppliers of victims to brothels and other notorious centres, including some neighbouring countries.

Adekoye recalled that the Director General of NAPTIP, Binta Adamu Bello, had directed operatives of the agency across the country a few weeks ago to step up surveillance and intelligence-gathering activities within their jurisdictions to address the reported cases of inter-state recruitment and trafficking.

She also directed the operatives to beam searchlights on the activities of some hotels, drinking joints, and motor parks in all the state capitals, to curtail the activities of some criminal elements who operate as members of human trafficking gangs in the country.

Adekoye said report says the rescued victims were found inside a small room located within the Hotel complex, while the traffickers were inside another well-furnished room within the same compound, relishing the proceeds of the exploitation.
Speaking after the operation, the victims claimed that they were deceived, recruited, and trafficked to Katsina with a promise of a legitimate job, only to be forced into prostitution against their will.

One of victim was quoted to have said: “I was brought here by a woman (name withheld). She promised to give us a job and that we would be paidvery well. I asked her the details of the job, but she said I will know the nature of the job when I get here. When we got here, she introduced us to prostitution, which was not part of what they told us before.

“We actually sleep with a lot of men, at least 20 men a day, and all the money we get goes to the chairlady of the place, by name Amarachi. We have no choice but to sleep with 20 men a day. Even when we are on our monthly period, we are being forced to sleep with the same number of men. Even when we are sick of tired, they will force us to sleep with me. They said it is not their business to know how we feel, but to engage in prostitution. They give us a fearless energy drink each to take every evening so that we can have energy to work, be awake to sleep with the men, and get money for them.

“They take all the money we make and leave us to feed ourselves”, the victim lamented with uncontrollabletears.
While thanking NAPTIP for coming to their rescue, the victims disclosed that the traffickers, in addition to crippling them financially so that they will not be able to escape, also paid some men to keep eye on them.

Speaking on the development, the Director General of NAPTIP, expressed worry over the activities of some hotels and centres across the Country that harbor victims of human trafficking, saying that the hotel in question shall be sanctioned in line with the provisions of the trafficking law.

She said: “I wish to commend the Operatives of NAPTIP in Katsina for the raid and rescue of the victims. Their stories are painful and sad. They were deceived, recruited, trafficked, and forced into prostitution. While they are facing horror every day from prostitution, their traffickers were somewhere within the same hotel,feeding fat on the proceeds of the exploitation.

“It is also important to reiterate our earlier warning about operators of hotels aiding and abetting the exploitation of victims of human trafficking in their facilities. We have commenced a legal process to determine the next execution order for the hotel. The law shall definitely take its course.”

NAPTIP Smashes Human Trafficking Syndicates in Katsina

Rwanda Pledges to Strengthen Trade, Aviation, ICT Ties with Nigeria

By: Michael Mike

Rwanda’s High Commissioner to Nigeria, Christophe Bazivamo, has said his country is poised to strengthen bilateral relations with Nigeria through trade, aviation, and Information and Communication Technology (ICT).

Bazivamo made this known on Friday night in Abuja during the 31st anniversary of Rwanda’s Liberation Day, also known as Kwibohora, with the theme: “The Journey Continues.”

The event is held annually on July 4 to commemorate the end of the 1994 Rwandan Genocide, during which about one million people died.

Bazivamo emphasised that strengthening trade collaboration between Rwanda and Nigeria was a catalyst for bolstering their bilateral relations, economic growth, and development.

Bazivamo also disclosed that Rwanda and Nigeria had recently taken a major step toward deepening economic relations with the signing of a landmark Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement (DTAA) on June 27, 2025. He described the agreement as “more than a legal instrument,” calling it a bridge to unlocking investment opportunities and eliminating fiscal barriers.

“Just last week, on June 27, our two countries signed a landmark Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement—a major step towards eliminating fiscal barriers and unlocking investment opportunities,” he said. “This is more than a legal agreement—it is a commitment to build bridges, not borders.”

The envoy said that Rwanda would also deepen its partnership with Nigeria across other sectors, including aviation and digital innovation.

According to him, such efforts aim at not just bolstering bilateral relations between the two countries but also to collectively shape a prosperous Africa.

He said that Rwanda was currently working assiduously to facilitate seamless connectivity between Rwanda and Nigeria through cooperation in the aviation sector.

According to him, the aviation sector plays a crucial role in enhancing business activities and tourism across the two countries.

Bazivamo also highlighted the benefits of investing in ICT partnerships for both nations, adding that the potential of ICT in driving innovation and economic transformation cannot be overemphasised.

The High Commissioner also underscored Rwanda’s commitment to regional stability and alluded to Rwanda’s recent peace agreement with the Democratic Republic of Congo as evidence.

He attributed Rwanda’s record achievements and progress in various areas, such as technology, gender equality, and economic growth, to “deliberate choices and a unified national purpose.”
Bazivamo also explained that Rwanda’s Vision 2050 is a strategic framework that is focused on inclusivity, sustainability, and innovation.

According to him, it aims to catapult Rwanda to an upper-middle-income status by 2035 and a high-income, knowledge-based economy by 2050.

“This is not a dream; it is a strategic plan anchored on inclusivity, sustainability, and innovation, ensuring that the fruits of our development benefit every single Rwandan,” the envoy added.

Rwanda’s official Independence Day from Belgium is July 1, Kwibohora is significant because it symbolises Rwanda’s rebirth, unity, and journey toward healing and rebuilding after the 1994 Genocide Against the Tutsi.

The Kwibohora celebrations, which include patriotic, cultural events, and military parades, are aimed at honouring the sacrifices of those who fought for freedom and to reflect on the progress achieved since liberation.

It commemorates the defeat of the Hutu-led regime by the Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF) during the Civil War, which ended the Genocide that targeted the Tutsis.

Rwanda Pledges to Strengthen Trade, Aviation, ICT Ties with Nigeria

FG Ready to Welcome Potential Chinese Investors for Ajaokuta Steel Company

By: Michael Mike

The federal government has prepared ground for the impending arrival of Chinese technical partners and potential investors in Ajaokuta Steel Company Limited (ASCL).

The Director-General of the Nigeria-China Strategic Partnership (NCSP), Mr. Joseph Tegbe has had a high-level engagements with leading steel manufacturers during a recent investment mission to China.

In order to prepare ground for the Chinese team visit to the company, which the present administration plans to revitalize, the Director-General of the Nigeria-China Strategic Partnership (NCSP), Mr. Joseph Tegbe, paid a working visit to ASCL for an on-the-spot assessment of the facility’s current state and operational assets.

A statement on Wednesday by NCSP, explained that the goal of the visit was to review the status of critical assets and infrastructure in preparation for comprehensive technical assessments that will inform strategic investment decisions.

Tegbe was warmly received by the Managing Director of Ajaokuta Steel Company, Prof. Nasir Na’eem Abdulsalam, who led the NCSP delegation on a guided tour of the plant. Key installations inspected included the blast furnace complex, the dedicated thermal power plant, and other core and ancillary components of the steel plant’s vast infrastructure.

Speaking during the visit, Tegbe reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment, under the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to reposition Ajaokuta as a cornerstone of Nigeria’s industrial and economic transformation.

“This facility represents not just steel production, but the promise of jobs, industrial value chains, and national pride. What we are doing is laying the groundwork for sustainable, private-sector-driven investment that will finally bring Ajaokuta to life.”

He emphasized that the NCSP is working closely with the Federal Ministry of Steel Development and management of Ajaokuta Steel Complex to ensure that all engagements with foreign partners translate into tangible outcomes for Nigeria’s re-industrialization.

The Ajaokuta visit marks a key milestone in ongoing efforts to convert Nigeria’s bilateral partnerships into transformative investments. With technical teams from China expected to arrive in the coming weeks, stakeholders remain optimistic about the prospects of finally unlocking the full potential of the Ajaokuta Steel Company.

FG Ready to Welcome Potential Chinese Investors for Ajaokuta Steel Company