The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons has uncovered a human trafficking operation at a well-known hotel in Onitsha, Anambra State, arresting four suspected traffickers and rescuing 17 victims.
The raid, carried out with the support of the military, also led to the arrest of two individuals suspected of being involved in the buying and selling of babies within Nigeria’s Southeast region.
NAPTIP disclosed that medical checks revealed four of the rescued victims are living with HIV. The affected victims are currently receiving counselling and care from NAPTIP officials, alongside volunteers from the Anambra State AIDS Control Agency.
Reacting to the development, NAPTIP Director-General, Binta Bello, described the operation as a major breakthrough while condemning the actions of those behind the trafficking network, stressing that such acts amount to serious human rights abuses and criminal offences.
“I want to sincerely thank the Military in Onitsha for their support during this operation, and also the Gender and Human Rights State Response Team for their timely intervention.
“This is a criminal act, and NAPTIP has launched a manhunt for their so-called Madam,” the DG said.
Bello further revealed that the hotel owner is currently under interrogation as investigations continue to determine the extent of the facility’s involvement.
She reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to intensifying efforts against trafficking syndicates nationwide.
“We shall continue to double our efforts to ensure a good chase for the human trafficking criminal elements in the country,” she adds.
According to a statement issued by NAPTIP’s Head of Press and Public Relations Unit, Vincent Adekoye, the operation followed intelligence from a non-state actor indicating the presence of underage girls in the hotel.
Residents in the area had earlier raised concerns over the constant movement of men in and out of the facility, which reportedly has about 45 rooms.
The rescued victims revealed they were trafficked from Benue, Imo, Ebonyi and Akwa Ibom States and forced into prostitution.
Each victim was allegedly compelled to remit between N20,000 and N25,000 daily after attending to multiple clients.
One of the victims said, “It was my boyfriend who said he saw a job for me here in Onitsha. I will work for her (the traffickers), and pay N20,000 daily.”
Another victim narrated her ordeal, saying, “Our Madam beat us seriously because we came out of the rooms to see the people who tested us.”
