Victims of Trafficking Rescued on Route to Iraq
The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) has intercepted 13 females, aged between 19 and 39, suspected to be victims of human trafficking en route to Baghdad, Iraq, for sexual and labor exploitation.
The interception occurred at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja, following a tip-off from concerned partners who noticed unusual movements at the departure lounge. The victims were reportedly deceived and recruited by unregistered labor recruiters, believed to be part of a larger criminal network operating between Nigeria and some Middle Eastern countries.
In a related development, NAPTIP operatives have sealed the Three Stars Hotel in Kwali, Abuja, rescuing 11 underage girls suspected of being victims of sexual exploitation. The hotel owner was arrested, while other staff members fled the scene. This operation comes a month after NAPTIP rescued nine pregnant girls from a private apartment in Abuja, suspected to be victims of human trafficking