The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) has intercepted 13 girls suspected to be victims of human trafficking en route to Baghdad, Iraq for sexual and labour exploitation.
The girls, who are between 19 and 39, were allegedly deceived and recruited by some unregistered labour recruiters who are suspected to be agents of a larger criminal labour recruiting gang operating between Nigeria and some Middle East countries.
They were intercepted at the Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport, Abuja, shortly before departing for Iraq.
According to a statement by the NAPTIP Press Officer, Vincent Adekoye, their arrest followed a tip-off by some partners who noticed the unusual movement of some unknown faces at the departure lounge of the Airport in the company of some timidly looking girls chorusing the same answer to questions about their destination, and alerted the agency.
The girls were said to be issued 60-day visas and yet signed a labour agreement of two years with their agents
NAPTIP also stated that investigation showed that they would be paid $250 monthly by their recruiter, of which they would remit four months’ pay to the agent in Nigeria and another amount to the agent in Iraq.
Director-General, NAPTIP, Binta Adamu Bello, expressed displeasure over the level of deceit by the traffickers.
She said: “I wish to point out that our action is in line with the provision of the Trafficking in Persons (Control of Activities of Organizations and Centers) Regulations 2019, which empowers NAPTIP to issue clearance certificates to travel agents or tour operators and intending travelers for the purpose of Educational excursions, Recruitment for Labour, Sporting activities, Cultural, music excursions or competitions as well as all organizations, shelters and homes offering services for the purpose of rehabilitation of trafficked persons.
