NAPTIP Intercepts 25 Women in Suspected Trafficking Attempt

The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) has intercepted 25 women in Abuja who were allegedly being prepared for illegal travel to Saudi Arabia for domestic work.

The women, aged between 17 and 43, were stopped in front of a hotel in Wuse II, where they had gathered on the instruction of their suspected traffickers. They were reportedly recruited from Kano, Jigawa, and Katsina States with promises of well-paying jobs abroad.

“Some people came to our village and told my parents that they would help me travel abroad to work as a house help in Saudi Arabia,” one of the women explained.

“They asked us to wait here so they could provide travel documents, but we were never given any passport or visa. Nobody has shown up as promised.”

According to NAPTIP, the operation was part of ongoing surveillance in major cities following reports of increased trafficking activities.

Director-General of NAPTIP, Binta Adamu Bello, OON, noted that traffickers are now using Abuja as a gathering point before moving victims out of the country.

“I wish to alert our partners and stakeholders to the new modus operandi of a human trafficking syndicate that uses the Federal Capital Territory as a muster point for their activities,” Bello said.

“The sad reality is that these victims were deceived into believing they would find better opportunities abroad, without knowing the exploitation that awaited them.”

She added that the Agency is pursuing a prominent travel agency whose name has been linked to the case and called on regulators to ensure stricter oversight of their members.

“The exploitation of Nigerian citizens abroad remains a serious concern,” Bello stated. “We must all work together to put an end to this.”

The Agency said the women are now in safe custody, while investigations continue.