Rescue Operation: 11 Minors Saved from FCT Hotel
On February 18, 2025, the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) sealed a popular three-star hotel in the Kwali community of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja. During the operation, 11 underage girls suspected of being used for sexual exploitation were rescued. The hotel’s owner was arrested, while other supporting staff managed to escape.
In a related development, NAPTIP intercepted 13 girls, aged between 19 and 39, at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja. These individuals were allegedly being trafficked to Baghdad, Iraq, for sexual and labor exploitation. The interception occurred shortly before their scheduled departure and was prompted by a tip-off from concerned partners who noticed unusual movements at the airport’s departure lounge.
NAPTIP’s Director General, Binta Bello, expressed deep concern over the deceptive tactics employed by traffickers and urged parents and guardians to be vigilant against fake promises of employment opportunities abroad. She highlighted the agency’s commitment to identifying and prosecuting unregistered recruiters involved in such trafficking networks.