NAPTIP intercepts 13 girls bound for Iraq in suspected trafficking scheme

The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) has intercepted 13 girls, aged 19 to 39, at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja, preventing their departure to Baghdad, Iraq, where they were allegedly being trafficked for sexual and labour exploitation.

According to NAPTIP’s statement, the girls were recruited by unregistered labor agents, suspected to be part of a larger criminal network operating between Nigeria and the Middle East.

Their journey was thwarted after a tip-off from concerned individuals who noticed suspicious activity at the airport’s departure lounge.

NAPTIP’s Director-General, Binta Adamu-Bello, who was present during the interception, warned of the increasing deception used by traffickers, urging parents to be vigilant against fraudulent job offers.

She highlighted the alarming implications of the victims’ status, stating, “They were issued a 60-day visa and yet signed a labor agreement of two years. Once the visa expires, they are at the mercy of the master and lose all legal rights.”

Investigations revealed that the girls were promised $250 in monthly wages but were required to surrender four months’ salary to their Nigerian recruiter and an additional sum to their Iraqi agent. Previous victims of similar trafficking schemes have reported irregular payments and severe mistreatment, with many returning home in dire medical conditions.

In a separate operation, NAPTIP operatives sealed a well-known three-star hotel in Kwali, where 11 underage girls were allegedly exploited for sexual purposes. The hotel owner has been arrested as investigations continue.